Ernst Middendorp reckons Mamelodi Sundowns will win Betway Premiership again

Middendorp, who remains the last coach to take Sundowns to the final day of a title race during the 2019/20 season with Chiefs, believes the momentum has shifted in favour of the Tshwane giants despite their current position.

Pirates sit at the summit of South Africa's top flight with 58 points from 25 matches, following a convincing 3-0 victory over AmaZulu FC at Orlando Stadium.

Meanwhile, Sundowns were in continental action, securing a 1-0 win over Esperance de Tunis at Loftus Versfeld Stadium to advance to the CAF Champions League final.

Despite trailing Pirates by two points, Sundowns still have two games in hand - something Middendorp views as decisive in the title run-in.

Speaking on the Car Wash 2.0 podcast, Middendorp pointed to Pirates' 1-1 home draw against Siwelele FC as a costly slip.

"It will be interesting to see how it will end, but from my side, Sundowns - if you ask me - I will say it now directly, it's again Sundowns [to win the league]," said Middendorp.

"You have to win games like away at Durban City FC. If you manage those -even 1-0 - you are fine. But you cannot draw at home and expect to win the championship."

He also highlighted Sundowns' depth as a major advantage, noting that the squad offers quality across nearly every department. However, he did raise concerns about their reliance on Ronwen Williams, suggesting a lack of depth in goal could be a vulnerability.

Middendorp concluded that Sundowns' sustained success is built on constant evolution, with the club regularly strengthening to avoid complacency - making domestic dominance an expectation rather than an ambition.