PLAYING THE MINDGAMES
City coach claims Downs have huge challenge after Khama and Tau exit
Benni hints Downs will be in wars
Losing both Khama Billiat and Percy Tau is a psychological blow to Mamelodi Sundowns‚ claimed Benni McCarthy on Thursday as he attempted to stir the pot before Saturday’s MTN8 semifinal‚ first leg tie between Cape Town City and the league champions.
But he did temper it with a prediction that new signing Toni Silva could turn out to be a marquee player for the Premier Soccer League.
“Psychologically it is a big loss for them [Sundowns] and it is added to be the fact that their new players haven’t really settled in and found their feet‚” said McCarthy.
“But it still doesn’t stop them from having the same quality that they had and the players that they have brought in have foreign experience‚ so they could be better equipped than what the likes of Percy and Billiat gave them.
“The strength with those two was that they were both lightening quick and they were both deadly in front of goal. That’s why they were able to punish most teams.”
McCarthy made a particular reference to Guinea-Bissau international Silva‚ who grew up in Portugal‚ came through the junior ranks at Benfica and was on the books of Chelsea and Liverpool.
“He’s a player who interested me a lot. He came on yesterday [Wednesday in Downs’ 0-0 league draw against Highlands Park] and made a cameo appearance. What a player! World-class! World-class player!” enthused the City coach.
“I think once he is unleashed South Africa is going to have a new superstar playing in our league because he’s just a class above most players we have. He comes with pedigree‚ European experience and he’s been at youth level at Benfica and at Liverpool‚ and I don’t think you get a better education than at those two clubs.”
City host Sundowns at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday at 3pm and then go to Atteridgeville for the return leg on Sunday‚ September 2.
Meanwhile, it appears that Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane is prepared to sacrifice the MTN8 to progress further in the Caf Champions League.
The Brazilians face a mustwin Champions League Group C clash against Guinean side Horoya at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Tuesday.
A win will see the Tshwane side finish second and qualify for the quarterfinals of Africa’s premium club competition that they won in 2016. But this clash comes just three days after Sundowns’s first leg of their MTN8 semifinal against City.
Mosimane hinted‚ following his team’s goalless draw against Highlands Park at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday night‚ that he may go with what was labelled a ‘B’ team that beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 in the Shell Helix Ultra Cup pre-season friendly at FNB Stadium on July 21.
“We have to refresh the squad. I think ‘Mshishi’ [Themba Zwane] and them‚ they must rest. We have an important game on Tuesday which determines our fate in the bigger scheme of the Champions League‚” said Mosimane.
“So those who played against Highlands Park must rest a bit and these other guys get a chance to go to Cape Town.”
Sundowns’ starting lineup in the Shell Helix Cup was: Kennedy Mweene‚ Thapelo Morena‚ Lyle Lakay‚ Soumahoro Bangaly‚ Motjeka Madisha‚ Lucky Mohomi‚ Sphelele Mkhulise‚ Oupa Manyisa‚ Jeremy Brockie‚ Gaston Sirino‚ Anthony Laffor.
Based on the above XI‚ this would mean that Mosimane is set to rest the likes of Denis Onyango‚ Anele Ngcongca‚ Tebogo Langerman‚ Hlompho Kekana and Zwane in the first leg against City. —