Lakay’s chance to upset old side
MOSIMANE: LYLE WILL PLAY AGAINST CAPE TOWN CITY
Winger has been moved to wing-back by Downs coach.
Pitso Mosimane has set the stage for new signing Lyle Lakay to face his former side Cape Town City, when the two sides meet today in the MTN8 semifinal, first-leg in the Mother City.
Over the past few games for Masandawana, Mosimane has been working on a strategy to have Lakay fresh to confront his former employers.
Lakay, a natural left-winger, has been converted into a wingback position, sharing that role with Tebogo Langerman.
“It is a difficult game for us, it is a cup game but we still have another bite at home, and we will see when we come back (what happens in the second leg),” said Mosimane.
“Lyle must play today, that is why I brought him on in the last five minutes against Highlands Park. I was preparing him for Cape Town City at the expense of the game with Highlands Park.
“He probably would love to play against City, because that is where he comes from, but it is not really about that. I have to make sure I look after the programme,” Mosimane added in reference to Sundowns’ hectic schedule, which also sees them compete in the group stages of the 2018 Caf Champions League.
Another player who Mosimane recruited from the Mother City is former Ajax Cape Town captain Mosa Lebusa, who dumped the Urban Warriors as they now ply their trade in the National First Division.
Lebusa has not kicked a ball in the colours of Sundowns since joining the club last month. He could get his chance today in a familiar environment.
“Mosa is travelling with the team but he is a little bit compromised because he came when the programme had already started. At Sundowns, if you can miss the first two or three weeks of pre-season, I will have to try and see where we can put you in the little bit of training we have, because we don’t train much.
“So when are we going to find time to access him? He played in a midweek friendly game but the resistance was not big for me to really measure it. I must go with the concept of who he is and what he is capable of.”