Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Chiefs can hurt you from any angle, warns Khama
THE size and quality of the Mamelodi Sundowns squad has overshadowed just how difficult it is for the PSL champions to play catch-up this season, argues winger Khama Billiat.
Sundowns host third- placed Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus today (kickoff 3pm) and are under pressure to win to claw their way up the standings, having only played three matches while most of their PSL rivals have played five more.
The Brazilians were held back by their Caf Champions League commitments, a competition they won after beating Egyptian giants Zamalek 3-1 over two legs last month.
But the reality of domestic football is slowly sinking in for Billiat and his teammates, who have managed just one victory from their three matches so far, leaving them second from the foot of the PSL table.
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane claims his players are lacking the appetite to win league matches after being crowned African champions and the prospect of competing at the Fifa Club World Cup in Japan next month.
“It’s going to be hard to catch-up, but we need to show character, professionalism and respect the game,” said Billiat, the reigning PSL Footballer of the Year.
“We need to be strong and not to be comfortable counting all those games in hand thinking we have three points already.
“We really need to work for them and we really need to show up and bring the best out of everyone. We know that every game is very important and becomes a final because we can’t afford to drop points as we are behind already.”
Sundowns’ league opener against Maritzburg United – three weeks after the 2016- 17 season had officially kicked off – was a goalless draw. They were brought back to down earth by Cape Town City, who beat them 2- 1 a week after the Brazilians had clinched the continental title.
But they recovered with a 2-0 win over Polokwane City away from home, and now face a Chiefs side who are winless after three games in all competitions.
“We obviously need to start playing our best football as prep- aration for the Club World Cup also,” said Billiat.
“They are a good team, Chiefs. They can hurt you from any angle, so we need to make sure we do our basics right and make sure we don’t concede. We would rather create more chances for us to score goals.”
Sundowns have struggled up front without Colombian hitman Leonardo Castro, who suffered an ankle injury that sidelined him for three months, and forced him to miss the Champions League final and several other key matches.
Castro returned to training this week and Mosimane said he would get no more than 20 minutes on the pitch to increase his fitness.
Billiat can’t wait for the return of a man who scored 13 goals in 27 matches for Downs in his maiden season.
“He (Castro) is looking sharp,” he said. “We know he adds value with his aerial strength and we missed him a lot.
“We don’t have much height up front and that is obviously one of his strengths and we need his presence. He can score goals at anytime and from anywhere,” Billiat added.