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WE’RE TRYING TO FIND A BALANCE IN THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE Sundowns take on a goal-happy Maritzburg in the capital city.
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane wants to replicate his team’s away form in the Absa Premiership and thus see his side overturn their misfortunes at home.
Sundowns are two points clear at the top, but the majority of their points were won away as they have taken 19 out of 21 points on their travels while they have dropped nine out of 12 points at home.
“We are trying to find a balance in the challenge that we have. We broke the ice at home with a win against Baroka FC, hopefully it will now go the way we expect,” said Mosimane.
After edging a stubborn Golden Arrows 1-0 in KwaMashu, Downs welcome the free-scoring Maritzburg United to the capital city tomorrow night. Mosimane expects the KwaZulu-Natal side’s approach to be similar to that of Clinton Larsen’s outfit.
“Everyone expects us to win at home under normal circumstances, but we know it is going to be difficult at home because teams strengthen their defence and we should be the aggressor and go in there. We end up being caught on the break and it is difficult.
“Maritzburg are a typical example of this,” said Mosimane.
“They hang in there, they reinforce their defence and go on the break. We are playing against a team who are on form. We are playing a team who have scored seven goals in two games, so it is raining goals. It is going to be a difficult one, we need to be careful about that match,” he added.
While the Brazilians have three games in hand on second-placed Orlando Pirates, Mosimane is aware that teams will be aiming at Masandawana from all sides.
However, he is no stranger to the pressure of being at the top, as he has guided Sundowns to the league title twice since joining the club towards the end of 2012.
“We need to put the experience we have into place because there are two things when you are at the top of the league. Everybody shoots at you, just like everybody has been shooting at Baroka (Baroka were top of the table for much of the season).”