Top spot beckoning
SUNDOWNS: DEFENDING CHAMPIONS ON THEIR WAY TO FAMILIAR TERRITORY
With games in hand over title rivals, it’s looking rather rosy.
Mamelodi Sundowns have an opportunity to go top of the Absa Premiership tonight when they host Chippa United at Loftus Versfeld. Masandawana’s superior goal difference means a victory will send the defending champions straight to the top, ahead of SuperSport United and Cape Town City.
They also have games in hand on all their title rivals and to move top only halfway through their league campaign would be a serious statement of intent.
Coach Pitso Mosimane will again be without forwards Khama Billiat and Anthony Laffor, but he has Yannick Zakri as one of his options up front. The Ivorian had a relatively poor game in their 2-0 win over Bidvest Wits on Saturday, poor to the extent that frustrated fans repeatedly signalled for his substitution.
“I am happy with Zakri, he has not found it right just yet, but we have to give him time to adjust. How long did it take Bangaly Soumahoro? It can take time. Okay, Fares Hachi was like a hand-inglove, he just fitted in, like Ricardo Nascimento. For some, they adjust quickly, but for some, it takes longer,” said Mosimane.
“It took Percy Tau two-and-ahalf years to get to the level he is at now, it needed a little bit of time and patience to do that. It is not really easy. With Tiyani Mabunda, it took him three years. It is his fourth year now.”
Mosimane added that the Brazilians have gained a lot of experience from their Caf Champions League adventure on how to approach games differently.
“The Sundowns that we have can play pretty football and it can graft and grind out the result if we have to. We have learnt a lot, we went to Zambia to play Zesco United, there is no football there, so we have to adjust and it is good to see that Wits are in the Champions League, it is brilliant. The game that they have, their temperament, they will make it, especially in the away games,” he said.
“At Sundowns we all defend, we all track back. Here you play anywhere – there is nothing like my position is this. If you can’t play everywhere and say ‘no I can’t play there’, you will lose out and fall out of the team,” he added.