‘I’VE NEVER LOST IN EGYPT’
Unbeaten against Egyptians, Pitso urges Downs to leave it all on field
PITSO MOSIMANE’S unbeaten record against Egyptian oppositions, especially in their own backyard, is a big source of pride for the Mamelodi Sundowns’ coach.
If he can keep that record in Alexandria on Sunday against Zamalek in the second leg of the CAF Champions League final, the former Bafana Bafana coach will return from Egypt as an African champion. Five years ago Mosimane returned with just one point from the Pharaohs in Cairo with the national team in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.
Bafana could have collected all three points, such was their dominance. They were high in confidence having beaten Egypt 1-0 at Ellis Park in the earlier round.
Limiting Egypt to just one point from their two ties meant Bafana contributed to denying the Pharaohs the opportunity to challenge for a fourth successive Afcon title. Egypt were champions of the 2006, 2008 and 2010 editions.
Yet those four points they garnered weren’t enough to help Bafana qualify.
Now, the three victories that Sundowns recorded over Zamalek, twice in the group stage and the third coming in the first leg of the final, kept Mosimane’s unbeaten record against a nation that’s football royalty on the continent intact.
“I am happy that you are saying this because if I said it, it would be like I am bragging. I have never lost in Egypt,” Mosimane said.
This time though, Mosimane and Sundowns can afford to lose in Egypt , as long as it’s not better than their 3-0 victory from the first leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
The manner of that victory, them outclassing the five-time African champions, sent a strong message to the rest of the continent that Sundowns are ready to slug it out with the big boys.
“I told you that we are having fun,” Mosimane said. “To be honest, I didn’t expect that we would reach this stage in our second year (playing in the Champions League). I thought maybe in our third year we could get something out of this. But somewhere, somehow we are here.
“Most of our success has come prematurely, even in the league. When I came here, I had six months to save the team from relegation and in the second year we won the league.
“That’s the challenge sometimes. We raise expectations and put pressure on yourselves by achieving things a little bit earlier. I would rather have it like that than not have anything. We have to go for the Champions League. I just can’t believe that these boys are at this stage.”
Sundowns arrived in Egypt yesterday, after leaving on Wednesday night .
Their supporters gave them a good send-off at OR Tambo international airport. The players were given yesterday off. They will hold their first training session today. Tomorrow that training session will be at the match venue at Borg El-Arab Stadium. Mosimane made a small request to his players to carry out in the biggest of their lives.
“I told the boys that if you usually cover six or seven kilometres in a match, in this game put half a kilometre more than you do. If everyone puts that little extra effort in their performance (then we have a good chance to win this trophy). I said, I don’t want to see anyone coming out of this match, whether as a substitute or after 90 minutes and they aren’t tired.
“You need to come out saying that ‘I don’t have anything left. I gave my all on the field’. Even if we lose or don’t lift the trophy, you should say that I gave the best of my abilities.”