We want to win all the trophies, says Pitso
League, Champions League and Nedbank all on the radar
● While Orlando Pirates have been very coy regarding their league-title ambitions, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says there’s no reason for him to hide the fact that he is eyeing all three competitions they are involved in.
With the array of superstars from which to choose his starting XI and most available for selection, Mosimane can be forgiven for sounding bullish about his club’s targets.
“Some people (Pirates) don’t want to say they want to win the league,” said Mosimane of Pirates’ posture.
“It’s a good way to move pressure off the team, to manage supporters, players and all the expectations.
“But everything has its positives and negatives. Somewhere, somehow, when it’s not happening people will say but you never said you wanted it.”
With Sundowns topping the Premiership log with seven matches to finish the season, in the last 16 of the CAF Champions League and facing Cape Town City in the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup in Cape Town this afternoon, it was somehow expected that the Pretoria giants might give less priority to the domestic cup competition. But not according to Mosimane.
“We want to win the league, we want to win the Champions League and we want to win the Nedbank Cup,” said the Sundowns mentor.
“I would rather say that than be seen like I’m lacking confidence and ambition. We’re coming out.
Khama back against City
“We come out like that because we’ve done it before. There’s reference. We’ve won the Telkom, the league and Champions League. So that’s our reference.
“Probably you could say we are a little bit arrogant but we have to be because we’ve done it.”
Mosimane said he was expecting a tough match against Benni McCarthy’s side that gave them a rough time when they met in Cape Town in a league encounter early in February.
Tempers flared in that match and Mosimane got his marching orders from match referee Victor Gomez for protesting against one of his decisions.
The football on the field was also sizzling with Percy Tau’s individual brilliance culminating in Khama Billiat giving Sundowns the winning goal.
Mosimane is happy that Billiat will be available for selection today. The Zimbabwean, who is leaving the Brazilians in June, has been on and off the field this season, with recurring injuries limiting his game time.
“I hope it stays (his health) the same be-
You could say we are ... arrogant but ... we’ve done it Pitso Mosimane Sundowns’ coach
cause last season we lost a lot of players while chasing trophies. To realise all our aspirations we need to have most of our players available.”
One of those players who should be available to face City today is New Zealand-born striker Jeremy Brockie who is yet to find the back of the net since joining Sundowns in January.
With fans breathing down Brockie’s neck regarding goals, Mosimane appealed for calm and patience, saying the former SuperSport United striker is slowly but surely adapting to their style of play.
“Brockie is not under pressure (to score),” said Mosimane, adding that the player is attuning to his new environment.
“It took Percy a bit long to get going at Sundowns. It was the same with (Tiyani) Mabunda. You need to adjust but you must also understand that our team has a lot of pressure.
“Brockie is an important member of our team because I feel sometimes we have a lot more of football playing than the finishing of opportunities. So he is meant for that and is adjusting.”