Bafana stint has helped Mosimane

HIS time as Bafana Bafana coach opened his eyes to the challenges of African football, Pitso Mosimane said, and he is using the experience to negotiate his way past the many obstacles that are constantly thrown in Mamelodi Sundowns’ path on the continent.

Sundowns overcame insurmountable odds to win a maiden African Champions League last year, and they are on course to defend their title this year.

Their title defence has had many challenges, and the nation’s soccer lovers will have stood aghast at the sight of Morocco side Wydad Athletics’ technical staff charging at their Sundowns counterparts in the closing minutes of a heated African Champions League first leg quarterfinal at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on Sunday.

But while the huge crowd that attended the game gasped at the unusual sight of the match officials desperately trying to prevent the incensed Moroccans from starting a skirmish inside the Brazilians’ technical area‚ Mosimane seemed unfazed by the commotion and had the calm demeanour of a man taking a stroll in his garden.

“I was with the South African Football Association for five years [coaching Bafana Bafana] and I learnt a lot about international football‚ and that helps us here [at Sundowns] now‚” Mosimane said.

“That’s why sometimes it is important to get the experience [on the continent]. And that is why I left SuperSport United to join Bafana, because I needed to understand international football.

“We played all these North African countries. We played Egypt here [in SA] and Killer [Katlego Mphela] scored the goal here‚ they went away and they never scored.”

North African sides take great pride in intimidating the opposition, and they typically upped the tempo after Yannick Zakri gave Sundowns the lead late in the second half with the lone strike that would win the match 1-0.

But Mosimane said he was never bothered by the Moroccans’ antics‚ even after the final whistle.

“You must frustrate them. You must understand the North Africans. That is one part of the continent I wanted to know and understand very well.”