Downs must step up
IT’S not often that you hear Pitso Mosimane, who once told a room full of reporters in his final days as Bafana coach that he was among the best in Africa, acknowledge he’s up against it ahead of a grudge match.
Following Mamelodi Sundowns’ 5-0 battering of Polokwane City, Mosimane pleaded for a similar plucky performance against TP Mazembe – a team a light years ahead of City in ability and history.
The Brazilians host the DR Congo giants at Loftus Stadium in the first leg of their CAF Champions League first round (7pm kickoff) tomorrow.
With their match-winners Khama Billiat, Cuthbert Malajila and Anthony Laffor all scoring midweek, Sundowns have undoubtedly given the impression that they’ve peaked just in time.
“I hope those three, and Teko [Modise] put on a show because this is the right stage, ” Mosimane said.
“This is where we are going to see how far we’ve gone and if we have improved. TP Mazembe are such a big team, and this is such a big test for us. If you talk about us having resources in SA, you need to look at that team. They have their own aircraft and hotel. No stress.”
Mazembe have won the continent’s premium club competition four times and Mosimane said he would ignore their recent slump on the recommendation of his “spies ”.
With the DRC league running out of money, the two league rounds before a knockout stage this season went straight to the playoffs, effectively meaning Mazembe, owned by politician and mining magnate Moise Katumbi Chapwe, have not had much action.
“They are strong team, well balanced and with a lot of experienced players. Look at the track record Solomon Asante, Roger Assale, Rainford Kalaba, Mbwana Samatta and Given Singulumaba have. Top players,” the coach said. “And they have two players who just won the Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast in [striker] Assale and [keeper] Sylvain Gbohouo. We have to believe in ourselves. Laffor, for instance, should not play with a handbrake on.”
Asked what his game plan was, Mosimane said he was desperate not to concede. “You don’t want to go to Lubumbashi with them having scored here. If we don’t win at home, we must go there with a 0-0 scoreline.”
The return leg is scheduled for April 4 at Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi, Katanga province.
“TP Mazembe are a very strong, balanced team with experienced players