Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy believes the race for the Absa Premiership title is still wide open, despite Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits being front-runners for the trophy, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.

The Citizens dropped points away from home after suffering a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Pitso Mosimane’s Sundowns side at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Mother City-based outfit currently occupy fourth place in the league standings with 33 points from 21 games, trailing new log leaders Sundowns by six points.

However, McCarthy insists that the Brazilians and Wits do not hold an advantage in the league, as he believes there will be a twist in the remaining games leading up to the end of the season.

‘It is not an advantage to anyone, because there are still a number of matches to go before the end of the season… because in this league anyone can beat anyone‚’ McCarthy said after the game.

‘There is no more certainty that Sundowns‚ Chiefs or Pirates will run teams over‚ everyone has their bad spells.

‘There is no doubt that Sundowns have done themselves a favour by beating us, but Wits are still there and everyone will be looking over their shoulder to see who is coming to sneak through the back door or jump through the window.

‘It is heating up and that’s what we expect and want‚ our league is getting better and stronger. It is just that the middle man in green needs to step up also.’

Cape Town City will be hoping to bounce back when they take on Bidvest Wits at the Bidvest Stadium in their Absa Premiership encounter on Saturday, with kick-off set for 8:15pm.