The Citizen (KZN)

Pitso will not be silenced

MOSIMANE: I ADMIT I’M A BAD LOSER

- Sibongisen­i Gumbi

L ove him or hate him, Pitso Mosimane will always speak out when he feels threatened or unfairly treated. This is what the Mamelodi Sundowns coach revealed when asked about his comments which have stirred debate over the past week. He repeated them after the 2-1 win over Baroka on Saturday.

“I don’t know how many points I am behind the leaders at this point, what I know is that I got three points today,” said Mosimane in relation to a possible points deduction after they were found guilty of playing an illegible player in October.

When it was put to him that three points separated his

Masandawan­a from Orlando Pirates who top the Absa Premiershi­p, he retorted: “Maybe later it will not be like that.

“But that is my opinion, not the club’s. I can’t say we are out of the title race because I don’t want to dampen the mood for the fans.

“I am myself. Steve Komphela is himself and we are outspoken. Normally people take it in different ways. If I feel I am short-changed I don’t like it. If I lose to SuperSport United (Sundowns lost 2-0 to Matsatsant­sa last week) it is okay, I don’t have a problem. But when I feel I am short-changed – because I put a lot of hard work into preparing the team – I lash out. Some people say I am a bad loser – well, I have never seen a good loser.

“A coach who loses and smiles will be sacked. I don’t like losing. Some suggest I should be modest but that’s not in my character. I say what I say and if it is not right, so be it, I am a football coach and I don’t like losing,” said Mosimane.

Sundowns have a chance to close the gap on the Buccaneers tonight when they host Chippa United, who suffered a dramatic 4-2 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup semifinal at the weekend.

“Chippa are always a difficult team,” he said. Mosimane is likely to again call on Sibusiso Vilakazi who has just recovered from a lengthy injury layoff. Vilakazi gave a good performanc­e against Baroka and earned the penalty that resulted in their first goal.

“We didn’t want to give him 90, we felt 70 minutes would be fine as we have another tight game on Tuesday,” added Mosimane.

 ?? Picture: Backpagepi­x ?? SIBUSISO VILAKAZI
Picture: Backpagepi­x SIBUSISO VILAKAZI

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa