Pitso on the winding Champions League road
THE CAF Champions League is a gift and a curse for Mamelodi Sundowns. The tournament has given the Brazilians the honour of being the first South African team to compete at the Fifa Club World Cup, helped the players grow tactically and mentally, and given Sundowns the edge over their domestic rivals with how they manage their games.
The downside is that due to competing on two fronts, Sundowns have struggled to retain the PSL title.
In the five full seasons that coach Pitso Mosimane has led the Brazilians, he has guided them to league glory three times. In the other two occasions Sundowns finished second, losing the title to Kaizer Chiefs and Wits.
“We are trying (to retain the league),” Mosimane said. “It hasn’t been easy. We are a team that comes stronger the second time around (chasing rather than being chased).
“We knew where the league was. It was on the freeway (in Milpark). We went and got it. It’s back. Our challenge isn’t retaining the league. Our challenge is the Champions League. That’s what gives us problems. It’s not that we can’t retain the league. We also have to compete in the Champions League, which we have done for four consecutive seasons. We lost the league by three points last year. It was because of the Champions League. That’s the challenge.”
While every other PSL team is resting with the domestic season over, Sundowns are in Guinea to take on Horoya tomorrow in their second group match in the Champions League.
In the last three seasons Sundowns have been the last club to rest and the first to start their season due to their continental exploits, and this campaign is no different.
Things will be a bit different for Sundowns next season as the Champions League and the domestic league will be aligned, which means that they will be able to rest at the same time as the other PSL teams.
Mosimane is critical of rivals who don’t run the same race as Sundowns, arguing it’s easier for them to challenge the Brazilians in the domestic league as they have no continental obligations. Chiefs and Pirates’ desire to end their barren run along with juggling continental duties and looking to overthrow Sundowns at the summit of the league will make next season an interesting one for the so-called “Big Three”.
“I hear people say that next year Orlando Pirates will be better, I agree,” Mosimane said.
“But my question is, are we going to lose to AmaZulu again, Polokwane twice and lose so many games at home like we did? No guys. We have to do better. We will do better.”