No distractions, ‘so let’s wrap it up’
PITSO: WE SHOULD TURN ELIMINATION INTO A POSITIVE
Michaelson Gumede
Pitso Mosimane has refused to personalise Mamelodi Sundowns’ MTN8 trophy hunt, saying he cannot put himself ahead of the team. The Brazilians have not won the tournament under his guidance, having last lifted the trophy in 2007, though Mosimane did win it with SuperSport United 14 years ago.
Masandawana take on Benni McCarthy’s Cape Town City tomorrow afternoon at Lucas Moripe Stadium for the second leg of their semifinal. They have plenty of work to do after losing the first leg 1-0.
“I would like to put Sundowns before me,” insisted Mosimane.
“I would say if Sundowns win it then it is much better than saying I have not won it at Sundowns. It is a cup that has always eluded us and we know why. It is because we always had a Champions League game on Tuesday or Wednesday. Now that the Champions League is gone, hopefully we can wrap it up tomorrow,” said Mosimane, whose side exited the Champions League after a goalless draw at home to AC Horoya of Guinea on Tuesday evening.
City and Downs have had some fine contests since the former was founded two seasons ago, and Mosimane is well aware of the threat McCarthy’s side pose.
“They are not easy to beat. They have been scoring goals and in my opinion they rested their players for this game. I didn’t see Taariq Fielies (against Free State Stars) and Thabo Nodada was rested, Ayanda Patosi was substituted to keep him fresh and I didn’t see Ebrahim Seedat.
“They rested the players because the game is important and we are looking at those things because they are taking the game seriously. I think Benni would like to win his first cup final and why not? He deserves it, to be honest,” said Mosimane.
City reached the final of last year’s MTN8 under McCarthy, only to lose on penalties to SuperSport.
Nonetheless, the former Bafana Bafana coach is confident that his players can get back on their feet following what he described as a “sickening” feeling, referring to Downs’ failure to make it through to the Champions League quarterfinals.
“We have to up our game, we are professionals and we know we are not feeling well after the Champions League elimination, but we should turn that into a positive and say we have got another chance,” said Mosimane.