The Buccaneers dropped points with a 2-2 draw away to Richards Bay last weekend and are currently in second place on the league standings with 55 points from 24 games, while leaders Mamelodi Sundowns are one point better off from 23 matches.
They face third-placed chasing AmaZulu and Kaizer Chiefs in their next two games but have a reasonable run-in to the end of their campaign, with ties against struggling sides Stellenbosch, Magesi, Orbit College, alongside a potential banana-skin with sixth-placed Durban City.
Sundowns, meanwhile, still have to face Stellies, Richards Bay, Polokwane City twice, Kaizer Chiefs and Siwelele.
Mbatha, who has played in 17 of Bucs’ 23 league games this season, is not yet ready to throw in the towel.
“I believe that we are still in the race,” he told Pirates TV.
“And we have to continue playing our game because we have to take it one game at a time.”
“We are running our own race, and I believe that is something we must continue doing.”