Former Orlando Pirates left-back Innocent Chikoya has made a bold statement regarding the DStv Premiership title race in South Africa.
The defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, currently sit atop the DStv Premiership table and have two games in hand over Pirates, who are in 7th position.
READ | Pirates backed to still challenge Sundowns
Nine points separate the serial winners from the Buccaneers, and Chikoya believes that whoever finishes above Sundowns in the league will be crowned the champions of the 2023/24 season.
"It's still early days; there are points that are going to be dropped, including the teams that are on top," Chikoya tells KickOff. "If you concentrate on the games in hand and not winning the league, you are going to do well.
"Remember, in South Africa, if you overtake Sundowns, you win the league. The trick is to take each game as it comes until you are in the top two. You play the game to go above the team that is on top of you. That's the nature of the game. If you overtake Sundowns, you have won the league."
On the weekend, Pirates visit Richards Bay FC in what has been dubbed a grudge match. The Natal Richboyz are responsible for the Soweto Giants' exit from the Carling Black Label Cup.
"Because of what happened in the Black Label Cup, Pirates players will go into this one with the plan to right all the wrongs that happened in that game.
"They will not go there with revenge in mind but with three points in mind.
"The game of football is about who wants it more, and on that day, Richards Bay wanted it more. But the mindset in a league game is different.
"This time around, Richards Bay will be under a lot of pressure; they need all three points to move away from the relegation zone. So, they will tread carefully."
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