Pitso Mosimane, head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns (Photo by Philip Maeta/Gallo Images)
Pitso Mosimane hailed his “unbelievable” Mamelodi Sundowns side, after they kept pace with Orlando Pirates at the top of the Absa Premiership following a 2-1 win at Black Leopards on Tuesday evening.
Masandawana had to travel back from playing Wydad Casablanca in the first leg of a Caf Champions League semifinal last Friday, before making the trip to Limpopo, where their victory over Lidoda Duvha moves them level on 53 points with Pirates at the top of the table, with two Premiership games left to play.
Sundowns trail the Buccaneers only on goal difference.
“These boys are unbelievable. If you look at the programme we have, nobody [else] in South Africa has a programme like us,” Mosimane told SuperSport TV, after goals from Gaston Sirino and Tebogo Langerman were enough to see off Leopards.
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Dylan Kerr’s side only managing a late consolation goal from Tumelo Khutlang.
“From Rabat to Thohoyandou, excuse me, it is unbelievable,” he repeated. “One-and-a-half days’ rest and you have to play football again. For me, it is humbling.
“I don’t mind even if I don’t win the league … I give respect to these boys. What a programme!
“We had to rest Lebohang Maboe and Sugar Mabunda. We don’t have the legs for this programme, but these boys keep going.
“As long as we keep pushing for the league, it is not in our hands, it is in Pirates’ hands.”
The second semifinal is at the Lucas Moripe stadium on Saturday and Mosimane said: “The game is in Wydad’s hands.
“The best thing is to give your best. Your best might not be good enough, but I take my hat off to these boys to fight like this against well-rested teams.”
On Saturday, Pirates have a chance to go three points clear with a visit to Cape Town City.
Sundowns will host Golden Arrows at Loftus stadium on Tuesday.
In the final Absa Premiership games of the season on May 11, Pirates are at home to Polokwane City, while Sundowns visit Free State Stars.
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