Afcon tumbled-down Pitso’s plans
If it were up to him, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane would rather have the Africa Cup of Nations take place next year as he blamed the continental showpiece that took place in Egypt last night for taking a host of his players from him.
Pitso Mosimane coach of Mamelodi Sundowns (Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix)
A number of Masandawana players only started training with the Brazilians this week as they were playing in the Afcon. The side have been gearing up for the start of the Absa Premiership campaign where they will be defending their league title against crosstown rivals SuperSport United on Saturday at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
“You know what disappointed me this year? The Afcon came this year. If the Afcon was next year, this year I would have had a whole program with my players but here I am,” said Mosimane.
“I have got nine players who started training this week and I am playing on Saturday. But who cares? The supporters are there singing and they want a win, there is no story and the people are right to say Sundowns with the players that they have, they should have won, it is true but the reality says it is not the same. Look at Manchester City, where is Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus? They are not there because they were playing the Copa America,” Mosimane added.
The former Bafana Bafana coach’s side will play Bloemfontein Celtic in the MTN8 in search of the title that Mosimane has not won with the Brazilians. He suspects that his side might bomb out of the competition as they are “not yet ready”.
“I am playing Celtic in the MTN8. When did those guys start training? They’ll be faster than us but we will need to use experience and say these guys are too strong and quicker than us and are powerful. You need to score that odd goal and manage it.”
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