Mamelodi Sundowns return to action on Wednesday, when they face Marumo Gallants at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in a Betway Premiership encounter.
Head coach Miguel Cardoso has underlined the importance of managing his players carefully, with this fixture coming just three days after a 3-0 victory over Magesi in Pretoria.
“It was clear we were not satisfied but especially the players in the front. But the ones on the bench could not immediately enter, we had to manage so managing the team, players is very important,” said Cardoso.
“Sometimes we think about things we like to do but cannot do. We have to protect the players that we need to protect and use the ones with the time we can use them.
“But I think the result was done, of course we could’ve done the second [goal] earlier so that we could manage the game. The message at halftime was a little bit strong, but it had to be to wake-up and mission done.”
That result, courtesy of Kutlwano Lethlaku’s early opener and a second-half brace from Iqraam Rayners, extended Sundowns’ unbeaten start to the campaign and lifted them one point clear of Sekhukhune United and Kaizer Chiefs at the summit. However, the Brazilians have played one more match than their closest challengers.
Sundowns will be looking to build on back-to-back wins, having seen their perfect record halted by a goalless draw with Amakhosi in Johannesburg on 27 August.
Cardoso’s men have shown a balance of defensive solidity and attacking flair, but fatigue could be a factor with such a tight turnaround.
Their opponents, Gallants, coached by Alexandre Lafitte, have endured a mixed start. After opening the season with successive 2-1 wins over Richards Bay and Orlando Pirates, they have since gone three games without victory.
A 1-0 loss to AmaZulu, another 1-0 reverse against Stellenbosch, and a 1-1 draw with Polokwane City on 31 August has left them eighth in the table, level on seven points with Golden Arrows but ahead on goal difference.