Cape Town - Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy insists his side remains in the hunt for the Premiership title, despite their 1-0 loss to Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday.
Ryan Moon scored the goal that downed the Blue and Gold Army, moving Amakhosi three points clear of them. City trail league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns by seven points having played one game more.
Even so, McCarthy claims they can catch Masandawana, explaining that the unpredictability of the top flight gives him hope.
"Like Steve [Komphela] said, there's nine games to go so all is not lost. If you want to win the league, you've got to beat the best teams in the league," the former Bafana Bafana international said.
"You've got to beat the teams around you as well, so with nine games left, it depends on how far we're willing to take the race.
"The way the league is structured, anyone can beat anyone. Nobody is invincible, despite the big signings some teams have made to cripple the smaller teams, but all is not lost."
McCarthy has been vocal in his belief that City do not have the financial muscle to match some of South Africa's biggest clubs. However, he is confident that his team can make up for it on the pitch and haul in Sundowns.
"Again, as Steve said, there's only a three-point difference between us and them [Chiefs], and a couple more away from Sundowns," he reiterated.
"I'm an optimist and I think we have what it takes. We've shown it throughout the season that we're not a team to just lie down for anybody."