’Downs coach rues missed chances
MAMELODI Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane berated missed chances and over elaboration in the build-up by his players as Mamelodi Sundowns got off to a poor start in their African Champions League group on Saturday.
The 1-1 draw in Group C with Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, the defending champions, left the Sundowns coach angry, especially after their defence switched off and allowed Ismail El Haddad to equalise in the 20th minute after taking a thirdminute lead through Cheikh Ibrahim Comara’s own goal.
“We made a very crucial mistake. Without that mistake how were they going to score? They were never there … I’m not disrespecting them, but which chances did they have?” he asked of Wydad’s limited opportunities.
“I’m very disappointed with the result … I’m not disappointed with the game, I’m disappointed with the result because there was no reason we should not win this game. Definitely no reason not to win this game,” said Mosimane.
He felt his players had plenty of possession yet not enough shots on the opposing goal.
“Over-elaboration. So many passes. OK, we know it is our style of play and we can control the match, but I’m disappointed because I know what will happen in Morocco. They will put pressure, they will stress the referees.
“What makes me disappointed is that we needed to kill [the game]. We should have killed it.
“It’s a Champions League match and we have to seize the opportunity. We cannot say ‘we’ve taken a point off the champions of Africa’ and be happy. What about the champions of Africa? The game is played on the pitch. We should have won this game, there is no excuse not to have won the game,” he said.
● Sundowns have now asked‚ and are likely to be granted‚ a postponement of their next African Champions League tie in order to play against Barcelona in a friendly at Soccer City on May 16.
Sundowns have requested that the Confederation of African Football push back the game for a week and that they now take on Horoya of Guinea in Conakry on May 22 instead of May 15 as originally scheduled.
Caf have officially not confirmed the change but their officials told TimesLIVE that it was all but a “done deal”.
It will come as a great relief to the South African champions as they faced the prospect of playing in West Africa on Tuesday May 15 and then having to hot-foot it – presumably by expensive charter – back home overnight before the prestige friendly against the Catalan giants the next day at FNB Stadium.
Sundowns‚ who opened their Group C campaign with the home draw against the competition holders, now face a tough tie against Horoya‚ who won their opening group game away in Togo‚ also on Saturday.
The postponement has been agreed because Sundowns have invoked the name of Nelson Mandela and say the game is to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the statesman‚ which falls on July 18.
This is also the argument they have used with the Premier Soccer League‚ who five years ago told Ajax Cape Town they could not host Liverpool just a handful of days before the Nedbank Cup finals because the PSL did not allow any friendly matches against foreign teams while the season was still on-going. —