Back rank giving Pitso a headache
Right now, Pitso Mosimane’s biggest headache is how he will organise his rear guard when Mamelodi Sundowns play Al-Ahly in the Caf Champions League quarterfinal first leg in Egypt tomorrow evening. “Jingles” is in a race against time to get some of his defenders fit and ready to face the Caf Club of the Century.
The unavailability of regular full-backs Thapelo Morena, Anele Ngcongca and Tebogo Langerman has left Mosimane admitting that he might be forced to move centre backs Motjeka Madisha and Mosa Lebusa wide, which leaves him with Wayne Arendse and Ricardo Nascimento, who recently returned to full fitness a couple of days ago, as the options at the heart of defence. Bangaly Soumahoro is unlikely to feature, seeing that he has only played one game this season.
“Unfortunately I don’t have Anele and Thapelo and it is not nice and I will make a plan for that, but it is not going to be Nicholus Lukhubeni (at rightback). The boy is still young, he is a bit naïve, he puts his foot in the wrong place. In that space they fall quickly and it is a penalty so you have got to be very careful.
“We will probably play Madisha at right-back. Langerman is not yet ready so Madisha will probably come in handy and I hope Mosa Lebusa will be back to play at full back. In one game I was so surprised because I played four centre-backs in one line at the back. We played Mosa, Ricardo, Madisha and Wayne. We will see if we go with Ricardo and Wayne at centre back because that ball will come in and we have to get that second ball,” said Mosimane, who is counting on his attackers to turn it on against The Red Devils.
“They will push us into one half but hopefully we can use the speed to get behind them but unfortunately Thapelo is not there, that is when I miss him but we will do what we have to do. Hlompho Kekana, Andile Jali, Themba Zwane, Sibusiso Vilakazi are all well-rested.”