Treble furthest thing from Pitso’s mind

Sleek Celtic worry Downs

Even though he is one match away from clinching the treble this season, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane is not thinking too far ahead just yet.

Mosimane’s focus is rather on planning how to beat Bloemfontein Celtic in the Nedbank Cup final at Orlando Stadium tomorrow (8pm).

A victory in that match will result in Sundowns winning a treble, having already lifted the Telkom Knockout and the Absa Premiership this season.

“The treble is not there until you win the match,” Mosimane said ahead of the encounter with Phunya Sele Sele. “First, we had one cup [Telkom Knockout] and the league [title] was not on our side. It never was in our hands until for those [last] 20 minutes in our last match on the last day.

We managed to win the league but the worst thing is to think that you have won the treble without playing.”

Mosimane admitted he was surprised by Celtic’s improved performance during the Premier Soccer League (PSL) “bio-bubble“, finishing their seven matches unbeaten. “If you look at it you can say they need it more than us but football says whoever wants it now on the pitch will win the match,” Mosimane said.

“There are tactics that need to be played. They are playing differently, they came with different formations in the bubble. I was surprised with the formation they played in the bubble, but they won. They have been winning.

“They are one of the contributors to us acquiring the league title because they stalled Kaizer Chiefs [with a 31 upset]. So it means they can stop us as well.”

Having studied their performances under coach John Maduka, “Jingles” expects a difficult encounter tomorrow but insists that his side will be well prepared.

“They pass well. I just saw one of the games they played ... against Bidvest Wits, they can pass the ball. It is that team that have nothing to lose and they give everything.”