The Herald (South Africa)

Mosimane continues to play mind games

- Sazi Hadebe

“I’M scared of [Kaizer] Chiefs‚” Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane said ahead of the eagerly awaited showdown between the two sides at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.

Mosimane is an old hand at the mind games and very few will have believed his utterances.

But the Sundowns coach was not finished and he said the premiershi­p log leaders could not afford to lose to Chiefs for the second time this season.

He said he was even toying with the idea of “parking the bus” at the FNB Stadium and adopting a very defensive formation.

“Maybe we do five at the back‚” Mosimane said. “I’m responding to what the table says. We don’t want to lose at FNB.

“We have to be smart. We don’t want to lose. You might not win but we are not losing.

“We have to be conservati­ve‚ probably‚ why not. Maybe it’s always the first time.”

The Sundowns coach said he expected Chiefs to attack them as they would have home advantage.

“We are playing away‚ so somebody [Chiefs] must attack‚” he said. “We will take it nice and easy in that match. They must also attack us.

“We will be very conservati­ve, give you the ball also. You must also come to us.”

Having managed to get target man Jeremy Brockie from SuperSport‚ Mosimane was asked if he would be tempted to start with the New Zealander on Saturday.

“We will see how the game is. Brockie is not a transition­al player. It’s a different game there‚” he said.

“I also want to use speed against people. Play counter-attack maybe I will play counter-attack.”

Mosimane said he would respond to the questions Chiefs posed during the match and would study their game against Polokwane City and Baroka FC.

“Chiefs have three centre-backs always and it works for them. Look where they are on the log. Maybe the best defence in the league.

“But I score more. I want goals. It’s good to score three and have a clean sheet. I think that’s a nice balance‚ let’s be honest.

“We’ll have to check their game against Polokwane City and Baroka FC.

“I will respond to the questions. If it’s biology you have to respond to biology questions.”

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