Mamelodi Sundowns are set to face TS Galaxy at 19:30 on Tuesday evening, looking to move closer to another Betway Premiership title.
Line Ups and Team News
The starting line up for TS Galaxy includes Tape, Motaung, Mbunjana, Zulu, Xulu, Maduna, Mncwango, Mvelase, Mahlambi, Letsoalo, and George. The substitutes are Maseti, Mahlangu, Ngwenya, Letsoenyo, Moletshe, Rantoa, Zindonga, Fisher, and Nkosi.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ starting line up features Williams, Mdunyelwa, Johannes, Kekana, Modiba, Mokoena, Allende, Letlhaku, Santos, Sales, and Leon. The substitutes are Onyango, Ndamane, Lunga, Reisinho, Zwane, Ntsabeleng, Matthews, Rayners, and Mothiba.
Match Preview
Masandawana will be without the suspended duo Khuliso Mudau and Jayden Adams, while defender Keanu Cupido remains sidelined with an injury. A win for Miguel Cardoso’s side would take Sundowns to 71 points after 30 matches, with 21 wins collected across the campaign.
However, the title race would not be officially over yet, as Orlando Pirates could still mathematically finish level on points and potentially snatch the championship on goal difference if they win their final two fixtures against Durban City and Orbit College.
Scheduling Challenges
The scheduling of the TS Galaxy fixture has been a topic of discussion, particularly with Sundowns preparing for the CAF Champions League final. Miguel Cardoso explained that playing the match between the two legs of the continental showdown would have placed an impossible physical burden on his squad.
Cardoso cited the demands of travelling across Africa while competing domestically as a major challenge. “No, that would be absolutely impossible,” he said. “With the travel to North Africa, how would you make it? We could do it if we had two teams or one squad staying here while the other travels, it’s impossible.”
Cardoso pointed to Sundowns’ recent semi-final trip to Tunisia as an example of the logistical difficulties involved in CAF competition. He noted that the team was unable to secure a night flight after returning from Espérance and only travelled the following morning due to unavailable slots.
