Showing promise says Mosimane
Slow Downs are
WITHOUT getting too far ahead of himself, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane, who on Tuesday described his side as perennial slow starters to any Premier League season, argued that he saw hints of a genuine title contender in his Brazilians. This was following their 2-0 win over defending champions Bidvest Wits.
“It is always nice to talk and get excited because we won and are bubbly,” said Mosimane. “What is good is that our next game is on the road, where we have been brilliant – with a 100 percent record. It’s at home where we have a problem. We are happy with the result and we are happy with the number of chances created. The finishing is still poor. But we got our tactics right on the night, to be honest.”
Sundown’s victory away at the title holders, with the two goals coming from the boot of substitute Khama Billiat, pushed them up to fourth place on the log table. The two games in hand, however, can give Mosimane’s men the advantage in the title race.
But only if they win them, the coach said.
“They don’t work those games in hand,” Mosimane added. “Last year I had three of them, but lost the league. I don’t want to talk about those things, they jinx me. You’ve got to keep going and try and win.”
Mosimane didn’t want to preempt that Sundowns could be favourites going into the Christmas recess even though they appear a team rejuvenated following two successive wins over rivals Orlando Pirates (before the Fifa international break) and Wits on Tuesday night.
“I know my team, every year we never take the lead. We are slow starters. It is still very early days, and we have Chippa United this weekend, a tricky team. They beat us in the Telkom Knockout, so we have to respect them,” Mosimane cautioned.
Gavin Hunt at Wits wasn’t as optimistic as his counterpart, but he would still not throw in the towel on retaining the championship. It will be a tough ask, however, considering Wits have already lost six of their 10 league matches this season.
MAZOLA MOLEFE