Downs told to draw from past to defend crown

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has urged his players to draw from last season’s title-winning charge and use the experience to defend their championship.

The Brazilians beat Cape Town City 3-2 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Wednesday night to ascend to the premiership summit for the first time this season, and Mosimane is happy to be back in the now familiar position.

“I don’t know if this situation is an advantage for us but we must apply our experience because we have been there before‚” he said‚ adding that their next match against Bloemfontein Celtic was crucial to stay top of the pile.

“Normally when we are there at the top‚ we don’t come back.

“I hope we draw from the experience we gained last season but we will see what happens in our next match against Bloemfontein Celtic.

“The other big one is the return leg against Cape Town City in Cape Town next week.

“They will never allow us to score three goals there‚ it is going to be a tight one like our game against Bidvest Wits and I hope there is no red card.

“Maybe we will nick it away from home but in some games like the one against Wits‚ I told you guys the point away to them is big. “When we went to the FNB Stadium this year‚ that game was big for us and people were surprised at the way I celebrated.

“Most are still going to pass there at FNB‚ Cape Town City still has to play Wits and they must cancel each other.

“Somebody must drop points.”

Mosimane was satisfied with the convincing manner in which his charges dealt with City, who have often given them problems in the past.

“I have never really seen a big upper hand on them like we did [on Wednesday] and we also scored three goals.

“Even when we had Khama Billiat and Percy Tau, we never outplayed them like this.

“I am happy that we are managing big games like the ones against Chiefs and Wits.

“We need to manage the one at Orlando Stadium later in the season and not be emotional. We may not win there but we must not lose.”

Sundowns went into the clash on the back of two successive draws against Polokwane City and Bidvest Wits where they shot themselves in the foot with costly mistakes. –

Mosimane was satisfied with the convincing manner in which his charges dealt with City, who have often given them problems in the past