Pirates eye bigger cushion at the top as Makhaula targets Sundowns’ scalp
18th February 2026
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As Orlando Pirates look to put a stop to Mamelodi Sundowns’ dominance in the Betway Premiership, Bucs midfield strongman Makhehleni Makhaula has highlighted the importance of extending the gap between them and the defending champions.
Pirates are six points clear at the top after 16 matches with Sundowns having a game in hand and looking to close the gap.
The Brazilians have lifted this league title for the past eight seasons in a row, a testament to their dominance. Makhaula knows that this is a kind of team you cannot allow to wake up...
"This game will make a big difference for us. It will be the decider or something like that, but we need to make sure that we set the tone and prove that we want to win this game, because they are the team that are really experienced in the league."
In their last three meetings with Sundowns, Pirates had to fight from a goal down to come back and draw level.
Makhaula believes that if they can pounce first tonight, it will be a different ball game altogether and emphasises the importance of scoring early...
"It will help us a lot to defend well and to make sure we don't concede early, and then again, we need to make sure that we take our chances and try to score early because that's really going to help our chances."
Makhaula (36), who hails from Mohlakeng in Randfontein, on the East Rand, was not even playing professional football when Pirates last won the league title in 2012.
The former Free State Stars, Highlands Park and AmaZulu anchorman looks at the importance of his experience ahead of this clash...
"My experience is that I've never beaten Sundowns, but when I arrived in Orlando that's when I saw myself really competing with the best and trying to be the best in the league.
"We need to be good tactically and we must defend well because if you make one mistake in a game like this, you will be punished."
Pirates are unbeaten against Sundowns in their last four matches across all competitions, their last loss to the Brazilians was a 4-1 home league win for the Brazilians at the beginning of last year at Loftus Stadium.
This is the game, the veteran midfielder says they have to win at all costs.
