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Roger de Sa tips Downs

ROGER de Sa has ruled his BidVest Wits team out of the Premiership title race, but he picks Sundowns to win the trophy.

De Sa, who saw his side score a late equaliser against the log leaders at Loftus on Tuesday night to grab a precious point, said the Brazilians' quality was a notch above that of fellow title challengers Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

Wits are in with a mathematical shot of winning the league, but their coach said "even Houdini couldn't get to the top of the log with the points we've got".

"During the match I looked at their bench and saw the depth that they have there. I looked at my bench and I was scratching my head. If I was a betting man I would still put my money on Sundowns to win the league."

The Clever Boys' coach also pointed to Sundowns' record-breaking 24-0 victory against regional fourth-tier club Powerlines FC in the Nedbank Cup as a reason why they had his vote. "People talk about how weak Powerlines were, but that was one of the best performances I have seen from a PSL side in a long time."

De Sa said that in watching Sundowns, Chiefs and Pirates play in the league this season, he got the impression that the two Soweto giants often gave the opposition hope of getting a point or even a win.

Wits will play Downs again this season after being drawn to face them in the Nedbank Cup on March 25.

Despite his admiration for Sundowns, De Sa has much to be pleased about with his club. The Wits goal-scorer on Tuesday was 17-year-old Zaid Patel, who came off the bench to grab the equaliser. According to De Sa, fans will see and hear a lot more about the teenager.

"He's been scoring goals like a machine for the Under-18s," said De Sa. "So what if he is only 17? For us it is all about seeing him growing quicker and becoming stronger."

De Sa reckons Patel, promoted from the Wits colts team in January, is "one for the future".

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