A fight to keep hopes alive
Wits, Sundowns do battle both needing points to close the gap with Chiefs
THERE will be more to tonight’s clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits, than just the points on offer.
Though a win for either side will give much needed millage in order to close the gap up on log leaders Kaizer Chiefs, there will be a battle on the sidelines between coaches Pitso Mosimane and Gavin Hunt.
None of the two want to lose to the other. When their sides clash at the Bidvest Stadium this evening, it promises to be a supercharged affair considering what is at stake.
Both teams have the same number of points in the league but they are miles apart in certain respects. Their coaching abilities are in no doubt. They both are in charge of teams that enjoy massive financial backing. However the amount of pressure on them is not the same.
While Hunt can afford to get away with some below par performances, Mosimane doesn’t enjoy the same privilege. Just the previous weekend, Wits crashed out of the CAF Confederations Cup after losing 6-5 on penalties following a 3-3 draw with Swazi side Royal Leopards while Sundowns beat Seychelles outfit St Michel 4-1 on aggregate in the CAF Champions League.
That Wits lost to the Leopards, who play in a country that is not so great at football, came as a surprise especially given that Wits won 3-0 in the first leg. The loss has led to many questioning Wits’ seriousness in the continental tournament. On social media, ardent football lovers hammered Wits for wasting precious points that were accumulated by Orlando Pirates during their CAF Champions League campaign two years ago. “I am disappointed. What can we do,” said Hunt in the aftermath of their exit.
His counterpart Mosimane was shocked that Hunt’s men did not progress. Hunt had deployed a second string team with key players such as internationals Sibusiso Vilakazi and Thulani Hlatswayo rested. Mosimane is of the view that Wits had their sights on the clash against his men this evening.
“Maybe they didn’t want it. I think the focus is on today. I would like to see Hunt’s team. Sometimes you put your eggs in one basket and sometimes you might not get anything. Let’s see if their prioritisation was right. It’s not easy to beat Sundowns,” said Mosimane.
“Maybe we have different objectives. At Sundowns we are expected to go there (continental competitions). The four teams; Chiefs, Pirates, Wits and Sundowns, have spent enough resources to strengthen their teams and have big enough squads to avoid making excuses to go there.. As Sundowns we are going for it.”
Mosimane also rested key players the likes of Khama Billiat, Bongani Zungu, Cuthbert Malajila and Dennis Onyango while Teko Modise and Alje Schut did not play the full game on Saturday night. Modise and Schut have been influential for Sundowns in recent matches.
Sundowns have not lost a match in 15 outings and it remains to be seen if Hunt’s men can put a spanner in the works. Hunt is hoping to get maximum points to keep close to Chiefs, who they trail by 10 points. Anything less than victory for either side will be a disappointing result as they would have missed out on a chance to close in on Chiefs.