Phakaaathi.co.za The bigger picture We have a lot to live up to, says Luc
MOSIMANE: DOWNS COACH’S THOUGHTS STRAYED TO WYDAD DURING ARROWS TIE
Pitso’s squad jet out to Casablanca to face defending champions.
Pitso Mosimane had one eye on the Caf Champions League tie with Wydad Casablanca when he was plotting Golden Arrows’ downfall in the MTN8 quarterfinals, which they won 2-0 on Saturday in Atteridgeville.
Downs will meet reigning Caf Champions League winners Wydad of Morocco on Friday. The Brazilians yesterday embarked on their 19-hour trip to Morocco where Mosimane is hoping for a good result.
“This is a key game. We must get a point or three because if you don’t, you’ll be struggling. You can never be sure whether Togo-Port can hold Horoya in Guinea. I don’t think they can. We know how football is but I don’t think so,” said Mosimane.
It goes without saying that Masandawana would rejoice if the Togolese were to confound the critics at Horoya.
While Mosimane fielded what looked like a strong Sundowns team against Abafana Bes’thende, he had to rest some key personnel ahead of Friday’s clash at the Complexe Mohammed V Stadium.
“We were playing here but I was thinking about Wydad because I need Tiyani Mabunda in the mid- field, I need a fresh captain, I also need Tebogo Langerman as Lyle Lakay is cup-tied. That is why I played Lyle a bit longer because I did not want to risk Langerman.
“I also did not want to risk Ricardo Nascimento because Bangaly Soumahoro is injured. If I risk Ricardo it will be a problem. I played without a centreback on the bench, which is risky.
“That’s why it is important to have four centrebacks, then people say you have a lot, but two are out injured now, and then what?” said Mosimane.
The former Bafana coach was asked why he has four keepers in his team, but now with firstchoice goalkeeper Denis Onyango out injured, Mosimane’s decision looks justified.
“Kennedy Mweene was playing, Reyaad Pieterse was supporting but he is cup-tied for Champions League, and then comes Thela Ngobeni on the bench. Unfortunately we might not be a free-flowing team this season but we are trying to play and win cups ... there are many cups.”
Sibongiseni Gumbi
Free State Stars coach Luc Eymael admits it is going to be really hard for his team to maintain the standard of performance they produced last season when they finished fifth in the Absa Premiership and won the Nedbank Cup.
Stars have won one of their three matches this season and crashed out of the MTN8, suffering a 3-0 defeat at Kaizer Chiefs last Saturday night.
“At a team like Stars it is very difficult to achieve what we did last season and maintaining the standard is even more difficult. We conceded three goals against Bidvest Wits, conceded one against Maritzburg United and three against Chiefs. That is seven goals in three games. I am not happy about that. But I am not just pointing fingers at our defence because in football the first attacker is the keeper and the first defender is the striker,” said the Belgian coach.
He was unhappy after his side allowed Amakhosi space to express themselves and dominate the match at FNB Stadium, saying they faced similar opponents just three days earlier in Maritzburg and managed to thump them.
“We gave Chiefs space to exploit their skills. We knew they would overload the midfield. I don’t understand how we allowed them space because we were well prepared. Maritzburg play the same way and we managed with them.
“I was not happy about some of the players because they didn’t add any value,” he said.
Eymael said some of his players were still living in dreamland and caught up in their Ke Yona party.
“I think we have to forget about the cup we won in May. When you are a competitor you have to restart every time and fight at every training session and in every game to show your potential. If you don’t do that you never improve,” he said.
The Belgian also expressed his unhappiness at losing Siphelele Mthembu whom he claimed he made into the fine player he is now after the former Chiefs and Orlando Pirates striker had struggled to make any impact in previous seasons.
“We lost Mthembu who was a hard worker. We worked on him and made him better but now he has stabbed us in the back but I understand that is how football works. I think Eleazar (Rodgers) can give us something. Once he scores it will help his confidence. But I will speak to the chairman again because I want to bring in another player,” said Eymael.