‘MY GREATEST MOMENT’
Caf Champions League poses a bigger test
WINNING the Absa Premiership with Mamelodi Sundowns and then crowning it with the Coach of the Season award has been the greatest moment of Pitso Mosimane’s career.
Mosimane, who steered Sundowns to the Telkom Knockout trophy and the league title, was honoured at the PSL awards at Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park on Monday night.
It was his second PSL coach’s award in two years, having also achieved the prize in 2013-2014.
He said the dominant nature of Downs’ league victory, equalling the record of 55 goals in the 16-team PSL era and smashing the points record set by Kaizer Chiefs last season of 69 by finishing on 71, makes this season the highlight of his career.
“I will say it’s my greatest moment. When we lifted the trophy almost everybody had scored.
“I would like to have a top goalscorer with 25 or 30 goals. But for me I think the team is more important than the individual,” Mosimane said.
Not surprisingly, Downs cleaned up at the awards with Khama Billiat winning midfielder, player’s player and footballer of the season accolades.
Mosimane said the club would not stand in Billiat’s way if clubs in Europe show an interest.
The coach and players will have a far-shortened off-season break now, having been reinstated into the group stages of the Caf Champions League after Democratic Republic of Congo club AS Vita was disqualified for fielding an ineligible player.
“It’s bittersweet. I always encourage the players to go home. I wanted to go to the Copa America. I was going to New York. I can still go to New York but the Champions League group stages might not happen to me again.”