Mamelodi Sundowns’ manager Miguel Cardoso underscored the importance of continuous improvement following his team’s 2-0 triumph over Richards Bay in the Betway Premiership at King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday.

The victory enabled Sundowns to extend their lead at the top of the Betway Premiership, with Arthur Sales scoring in the first half and Lucas Ribeiro Costa adding another in the second.

Sundowns had opportunities to further increase their margin, particularly when Iqraam Rayners got past Salim Magoola, but the shot angle proved to be too narrow. The African Giants now sit atop the Betway Premiership standings with 30 points from 11 matches, leading by three points over second-place Orlando Pirates.

Nevertheless, Sundowns have played two more matches than the Pirates, who will face Magesi at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday. Should the Pirates win, they will reduce the gap to just three points.

“It’s vital to seize our chances, and there is indeed room for enhancement,” Cardoso remarked on SuperSport TV after the game.

“Yet, I praised the players for their hard work, dedication, attitude, and resilience to keep playing under difficult conditions. 

“That’s an excellent question. We strive to be incredibly aggressive the moment we lose possession, pressing immediately. However, in our lately played matches, the opposition hasn’t managed to hold onto the ball. They often just kick it further ahead. 

“This poses challenges because when we advance to press, they can readily exploit gaps on the wings or the space behind our defense, which makes it tricky. 

“We must understand the complexities of this situation and not approach it naively; otherwise, we risk conceding goals in such scenarios. 

“This was a tough match. We need to be continuously active and maintain our team’s defensive balance. 

“I believe we achieved that, and we must maintain our intensity in pressing the ball during the right moments after losing it. This is crucial for our advancement.”

Sundowns remain unbeaten under Cardoso, having celebrated four straight wins across all competitions while not conceding a single goal.

This concludes Sundowns’ Premiership campaign for 2024. The team will now shift its focus to the CAF Champions League, where they are set to face Raja Casablanca in Morocco on January 4, 2025.

“Now we’ll wrap up our championship chapter and open the one for the CAF Champions League. It’s time to recover and assess who will be in the best shape for the upcoming match.”