History is on City’s side, says Pitso

Michaelson Gumede

If Mamelodi Sundowns want to keep their hopes of winning the treble alive, they will need to beat Benni McCathy’s Cape Town City on Sunday in their Nedbank Cup match in the Mother City.

Sundowns are also vying for Caf Champions League and Absa Premiership honours.

Downs coach Pitso Mosimane says recent history favours McCarthy’s side as they have met four times in the league, with Masandawana winning only once against a club that turns two June.

“We are playing a very good team and I think everybody knows the history between us – and history favours them,” said Mosimane.

“Benni is a good, young, up-and-coming coach with the pedigree of being in Europe in his playing days. He has a good understanding of the game.

“We have to give our respect to them and understand that they are a good team ... that is why they are where they are.”

But Mosimane knows better than most that in football, you are only as good as your last game. And the Brazilians beat City 1-0 in the league in February.

“If you want to use the football language, you can say you are as good as your last game and the last match favours us. But the history always makes us understand that we are playing against a good team,” added “Jingles”.

Mosimane noted that current Ajax Cape Town coach Muhsin Ertugral deserves the credit for City’s success, as he was the architect when the team was known as Mpumalanga Black Aces.

City won the Telkom Knockout in their maiden season, paired with a third-place league finish. This season, they played in the Caf Confederation Cup.

“If you look at the players that they have, they are a very experienced team and this is a team that was well built by Muhsin Ertugral,” said Mosimane. “Eric Tinkler inherited the team and didn’t do much, and Benni inherited the team and didn’t touch much. Sometimes we forget to credit Muhsin for building a strong team.”