South African football legend Teko Modiseon the ORlando Pirates-Mamelodi Sundowns match: This is a title deciding game of the season

Teko Modise said this evening’s game between Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns is a title decider.

Modise, who played for both teams in his career, said this massive fixture is likely to reveal the real title contender for this season’s Betway Premiership title.

“This is a massive fixture. Sundowns are coming off a big win [against MC Alger], and in football, you need that momentum. In games of this magnitude, you can’t afford even a single lapse in concentration. For me, this isn’t just a three-point game; it’s a six-pointer,” Modise said on the Pitchside Podcast.

“Even though it’s only game number 16 for Mamelodi Sundowns, it could be a title decider in the sense that a victory creates momentum that carries you through the rest of the season.

“I’ll give you a practical example: One year, we returned from pre-season in Ghana and found ourselves 10 points behind Kaizer Chiefs. We were struggling, but we won one game—I think it was against Bidvest Wits—and we didn’t lose again until we won the league. We just needed that spark.”

“But the game has evolved, and players have more quality now, but the stakes remain the same. You are playing against rivals you are fighting with for the top spot. You have to remember: this is a team [Pirates] that hasn’t won the league in over a decade. Meanwhile, Sundowns have won it for eight years straight.

“This game changes everything. Pirates are facing Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs back-to-back, which could cause them to stumble. But it has to start with Sundowns taking initiative. That’s how I view this match.”

The game at FNB Stadium starts at 7.30pm.