Jingles’ juggling act…
Downs ready to shoot down FS Stars in preparation for Japan Hot new kids on the block stun favourites
INSTEAD of fighting the fact that the Fifa Club World Cup is in the back of the minds of Mamelodi Sundowns’ players, Pitso “Jingles” Mosimane will use that as motivation this afternoon before flying to Japan on Monday.
The Brazilians have first to honour their domestic league commitments against Free State Stars at Loftus Versfeld (3.30pm) ahead of representing Africa in Japan.
Competing on two fronts has affected Sundowns’ mentally, having to juggle playing against some of the best sides on the continent and then returning to face clubs with ambition and support base that don’t go beyond the borders of South African.
That has seen the side slip up against Maritzburg United to get a point with a B-team before losing to Cape Town City after being crowned African champions.
Their last Absa Premiership loss to Ajax Cape Town came from a team that wanted it more, planned thoroughly for Sundowns and were better on the day.
They should expect the same thing against Giovanni Solinas’ Ea Lla Koto.
“This isn’t a nice game for us because we are already in Japan,” Sundowns coach Mosimane said.
“I will try to use the game as a good send-off to our supporters. Maybe that will lift the temperament, mentality and attitude of the players to say that we must live the right way.”
Getting Sundowns in the right space mentally is the only thing Mosimane and his technical team have had to worry about in terms of getting the team ready after they were crowned African champions.
After that, the side only had one squad to work with. Before they had one group of players registered for the CAF Champions League and those who weren’t.
That stunted the progress of new signings like Thapelo Morena, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Lucky Mohomi, Yannick Zakri and Ricardo Nascimento because they had to deal with a programme that had many pauses while their teammates conquered the continent.
But that phase unconsciously prepared Mosimane for the final stretch of the league race that will see Sundowns compete for the Premiership, Nedbank Cup and start of their Champions League defence.
“Things are better now,” Mosimane said.
“I didn’t think that our team would gel this soon. Gelling two teams into one isn’t easy. I am happy with how we have done that.
“In the last four games, I could use different players. (Themba) Zwane was popping up. Anthony (Laffor) was making the starting line-up more than before. Vilakazi was playing a lot. Percy Tau came up a little bit, so the ‘CBD’ (Leonardo Castro, Khama Billiat and Keagan Dolly) wasn’t there.
“We scored eight goals in the last three games. It has been beautiful to see. That’s where I wanted the team to be, coming up nicely as a unit so that when you start the Champions League again next year you are ready.
“By the time the Champions League starts you will have the Nedbank Cup and the league. So which team plays where? I am happy with the group of players who have been playing. That’s why I started with them against Ajax.
“I kept the CBD out because they had won the last three games (before the Ajax match) and they scored 10 goals in those matches. They had done exceptionally well. Some of the people weren’t happy, saying you have forgotten the CBD. But what’s on the pitch is what works. I must go with that.” ‘TIS the season to be jolly, but you wouldn’t find anyone grumpier than Gavin Hunt at the moment – and it’s with good reason after his Wits side, still considered one of the favourites to win the Absa Premiership title, laboured through another fixture, stretching their winless run to three matches in the last two weeks.
Of course, hosting log leaders Cape Town City was never going to be a stroll in the park, but this was a match the Clever Boys needed to win to recover from their wobble.
Instead, their slump continues as they are now four points behind their Mother City counterparts, who were so eager for the victory they fought until the very end to grab all three points.
City’s unbeaten run extended to nine games as they become early pace-setters in the championship race.
Hunt was highly animated throughout as he again had to make do without core members of a team that has occupied the summit for most of the season and were crowned MTN8 champions in October. That cup can often be a bad omen, but with the quality in this Wits squad you’d think they wouldn’t be this lethargic.
They slogged their way to a 1-0 victory over Platinum Stars before being held to a 2-2 draw by relegation candidates and league rookies Highlands Park, with SuperSport United bruising their egos by thumping them 2-0 in Nelspruit on Tuesday night.
Hunt was boosted by the return of midfielder Thabang Monare, one of the five players who missed the away game to Super- Sport through injury or suspension, and the former Jomo Cosmos man looked lively.
But the Clever Boys needed more, getting off to a rough start here when Roland Putsche broke the deadlock as early as the 12th minute to shock the hosts.
It wasn’t too much of a surprise for those who have been watching City, next Saturday’s Telkom Knockout finalists against SuperSport in Polokwane.
This team, coached by Eric Tinkler, has done it’s rounds in the Gauteng province against the usual suspects when it comes to challenging for the championship, drawing with Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs and beating title holders Mamelodi Sundowns.
While Tinkler’s men are now considered dark horses for honours, Wits showed the type of inconsistency that’s been their achilles heel for several seasons.
After Putsche had given the visitors the lead, defender Bon- gani Khumalo was the hero of a Wits set-piece in the 31st minute. And then his teammate and Wits goalkeeper Darren Keet produced a howler than allowed City back into the lead when Lebogang Manyama capitalised from his failed clearance.
Then his opposite number ShuAib Walters attempted to outdo him when he fouled Mogakolodi Ngele in the box barely a minute after City had set themselves up for what would have been a victory. Eleazer Rodgers made no mistake from the resulting penalty, and Wits struggled to add to that tally.
A draw would probably have been a fair result given how high up the PSL table these two sides are, but it was Manyama who stepped up again to score the winner for City.
And there’s more to come from these Capetonians.
@superjourno