I want to win the grand slams, says Pitso
JOHANNESBURG: Pitso Mosimane heaped praise on his side saying that they had outdone themselves by qualifying for the Caf Champions League, for the fourth time in a row, following their 2-2 draw against Highlands Park on Saturday.
The result saw Mamelodi Sundowns claim second place position on the PSL standings, after Cape Town City lost 4-2 to Polokwane City on the same day this past weekend at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The Citizens finished just two points behind Mosimane’s side, who ended the season on 57 points.
That his side failed to defend their league title this season, after surrendering it to Wits, who won it a game to spare, Mosimane said he was not bothered by it.
In fact, Mosimane reckons that his side had a far better 2016-17, after having scooped both the Champions League and Super Cup in their continental ventures this season.
“How can it be a bad season where you just won the Caf Champions League, the Caf Super Cup and just qualified for the Champion League, four times in a row I might add, by finishing second on the league standings?” Mosimane asked a rhetorical question. “I mean who does that? It’s not easy you know.
“We are extremely proud of ourselves. We had a fantastic season. If you ask me if I would want to go back to Africa and fight to win both the Caf Champions League and the Caf Super Cup without having won a single trophy domestically again ... I would say yes. I would. I want to win the grand slams.
“Our fans also understand because we’ve been to Zambia, Egypt and Zimbabwe with them (in their continental ventures). We also went to Japan (for the Club World Cup). Life has been really good, and they know that.”
But all of this continental success has come at a cost, as the Brazilians haven’t had a proper off-season to recover like other teams do in leading up to a new season. Mosimane said the strain of having had to fight for honours in domestic, continental and international competitions is what really separates them from other PSL clubs.
“We are playing again on Friday (against Esperance in their third Champions League group match) and what will other people be doing? I’ll tell you now ... resting,” Mosimane said.
“Last season where were they? Resting ... In December, I was in -4 degrees (at the Club World Cup in Japan) and where were the other coaches and players from other teams? They were playing golf and taking selfies at the beach. You’ve got to compare apples to apples.
“Do you know of the Ironman? This is where you do your running, swimming and cycling in one race. You cannot wait to race me in the cycling phase and claim that you beat me afterwards though you didn’t get to do the other parts of the race like I did. Run the same race as I have and then we’ll compare afterwards.”
Meanwhile, Highlands Park interim coach, Leslie Grobler, said that he was disappointed that his team couldn’t avoid automatic relegation in their last game of the season. Grobler, though, added that he had full confidence that his side would bounce right back into the PSL, should the club’s management fight to keep hold of the key players.
“We don’t know as yet whether our players are planning to leave the club or not,” Grobler said. “We are going to have a meeting with the club management (today), where we are going to asses the whole situation going forward.”