Vilakazi not putting himself under pressure
‘I don’t think it’s desperate times for Downs, we just have to take the games as they come’
MAMELODI Sundowns striker Sibusiso Vilakazi is adamant it will be business as usual when he returns to his native Soweto to face Orlando Pirates at Orlando Stadium tonight.
The Meadowlands-born player makes a return back home and is bang in form after scoring in two out three matches for the Brazilians this year.
“Vila” opened his 2020 account in the opening round of fixtures as Sundowns beat AmaZulu away from home. But it was his most recent contribution that has been the most significant so far this year.
On Saturday, the 30-year-old scored the match-winning goal in Sundowns’ 2-1 win over USM Alger in the Caf Champions League as the Brazilians booked their spot in the knockout stage for the fourth time in five seasons.
Vilakazi’s newly-found scoring spree has since earned him a signature celebration with coach Pitso Mosimane, where the pair can be found exchanging a “fancy kasi handshake” on the touchlines – just in front of the team’s dugout.
And with such confidence and backing from his coach, you can bet on Vilakazi’s beloveds from Soweto anticipating his homecoming with a glee, right? The Bafana Bafana international is, however, not putting himself under pressure, saying he will stick to his usual style of play tonight.
“It’s just one of those games where you just have to play your part as an individual, but most importantly there’s a collective effort that needs to be done in order for us to get a good win. It’s not about individuals. All departments, defence, midfield, and strikers have to be solid,” Vilakazi said.
Sundowns’ qualification for the knockout stage of Africa’s premier club competition with two games to spare has been a welcome bonus for their supporters, who have backed the team to turn their attention to domestic matters and close the ninepoint gap between them and league leaders Kaizer Chiefs.
That is why bagging three points against the Buccaneers would be a step in the right direction, especially in what could be described as “a week from hell” for the champions, who will also face fellow title contenders and rivals SuperSport United on Saturday.
Amid this hectic schedule, where
Sundowns need to collect points against the big guns, Vilakazi cut a modest figure, saying they will take each game at a time.
“We are not desperate at this point in time. We just have to be composed. After all, we’ve been in this situation where we’ve been behind with points. So, it’s one of those whereby you’ve got to dig more out of your system and try to catch up,” he said.
“It’s not easy though because the team on top is (winning) and putting pressure by getting the points on the table. But I don’t think it’s desperate times for us, we just have to take the games as they come.”
Mosimane has always outlined that Sundowns’ targets for the season are the grand slams – the league and Champions League titles. However, while they have already progressed to the next round of the Pan-African competition, Chiefs do not look like they will give up on their No 1 spot easily.
But the fact that Sundowns have had the mettle to win back-to-back titles in the last two seasons could very well be an added advantage compared to a Chiefs’ team that haven’t won the league in the last four seasons.
THE road back to the Proteas for AB de Villiers may not be as straightforward as many hope it will be.
De Villiers, who made his Big Bash League debut in Australia yesterday for the Brisbane Heat, was quoted saying that he would “love to” return to international cricket but acknowledged that “there’s a lot that needs to happen before that becomes reality”.
The 35-year-old retired from international cricket in 2018 and created a media frenzy last year when it was revealed that he was keen to come out of retirement for the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales.
Cricket South Africa vetoed the decision at the time and it now seems De Villiers may face similar stumbling blocks if he harbours any ambitions to play in the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia in November.
“It’s not just going to be as simple as that,” Enoch Nkwe, South Africa’s assistant coach, said yesterday. “From my experience of the last couple of weeks with how (head coach Mark Boucher) works, he really believes in processes – you’ve got to earn it. It’s not just walking into the team.”
The process of getting “Mr 360” back into the national fold is certainly intensifying after Boucher claimed on the day of his appointment as coach that he was willing to have discussions with De Villiers about a possible return to the Proteas.
National team captain Faf du Plessis also confirmed that discussions with De Villiers are ongoing, despite last year’s fall out.
De Villiers confirmed yesterday that talks are ongoing with the powers that be, particularly as he shares a healthy relationship with the current management team.
“I’ve been talking to (Boucher), Graeme Smith and Faf back home; we’re all keen to make it happen,” De Villiers was quoted as saying.
“It’s a long way away still and plenty can happen.”