Downs still in pole position, says coach
Confident Mosimane sings praises of Tau
EVEN before Kaizer Chiefs spurned a chance to catch up to within three points of his team‚ Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane was not overly concerned about that prospect after his team were held to a draw by SuperSport United on Saturday night. Mosimane was not pleased at dropping four points in 1-1 home draws against Free State Stars at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday and then SuperSport at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria.
But he was also not getting himself even close to a panic.
Speaking after the game – and before Chiefs failed to capitalise with a 0-0 draw against Bloemfontein Celtic at the FNB Stadium in a later match – Mosimane was calm about the prospect of the points gap being closed.
“Have [Chiefs] cut the points down?” he asked, in reference to Amakhosi playing later.
“Ah‚ OK‚ let’s talk on Monday then.
“And we are still in pole position [even Amakhosi had cut the lead].
“And you know the [Chiefs-Pirates Soweto] derby is coming [on Saturday].
“You know what’s going to happen there. What do we usually get there?” [The derby is known for being a draw.] “So maybe the Tshwane derby draw is still good. “How can I worry about somebody who’s still got to pass us. I’ve got the lead.”
Downs travel to AmaZulu at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban on Saturday.
And Mosimane is yet to see the player in the Absa Premiership in 2017-18 who can challenge Percy Tau for the Player of the Season award. On Saturday night, the Brazilians’ prodigious talent again showed both sides of his developing game.
He miscued a chance in front of a wide open goal soon after Thabo Mnyamane had given SuperSport a 12th-minute lead.
But the Bafana Bafana star was then the spearhead trying to break down a Matsatsantsa set up – with three centrebacks‚ two wingbacks‚ and three central midfielders – to defend and break on the counter. Tau equalised in the 79th. “It was very difficult‚ where we had to punch holes behind the 10 defenders to go through by hook or crook‚” Mosimane said afterwards.
“And Percy Tau is one beautiful player.
“Huh. I’m waiting to see who’s going to challenge Percy for Footballer of the Year and Player’s Player of the Year. “I’m waiting. “And I need the name now‚ to say: [with] eight games to go‚ who is challenging Percy Tau for Footballer and Player’s Player?
“He must take everything. He’s scoring goals and he’s assisting. What a brave youngster.
“He just shows that talent is not enough – you must back talent.
“You must run‚ you must play‚ you must force‚ you must be brave.
“A player like this in South Africa we haven’t seen for a long time. It ’s unbelievable.”
Tau is the PSL’s second-top scorer with nine goals, behind Polokwane City forward Rodney Ramagalela’s 10.
He has 10 goals in all competitions and seven assists. – TimesLIVE, additional reporting by Marc Strydom