This week Sundowns coach Pitso “Jingles” Mosimane and charges are readying themselves for war
as they face Kaizer Chiefs in the much awaited Premier Soccer League clash at Loftus Stadium, Saturday evening.
Talk has been ‘change the team’ and “Jingles” is having none of it due to injuries plaguing his top players.
Downs face AmaKhosi having lost 2-0 to Bucs last weekend in the Nedbank quarter-finals and lost valuable points by virtue of a stalemate draw against the struggling Ajax Cape Town over the week.
As a result, fans and media took it upon themselves to the ‘change the team’ notion that has not gone well with the coach, who is trying to hold on to the title dream.
“I can hear the media is busy with that question, ‘Change the team, change the team’,” he told reporters. “We went 20 matches unbeaten with this team, and now I must change it? Why should I change it? And then when I change it and it doesn’t work out, then? Who do I blame – I blame myself.”
“But important players we have to change the game are not there – [Anthony] Laffor and [Mzikayise] Mashaba only trained one day, [Mogakolodi] Ngele is not yet back … an important player in the midfield [Bongani Zungu], you can see Kekana has lost his soulmate, with Zungu not there,” he said.
“So we have to understand the reality – those are four key players, important players, and if they are not there, we just have to listen to what the game says. That’s what the reality is, so we can’t be all emotional now and say, ‘Freshen the team’. When I was winning, no-one was saying I must freshen the team.
“So yes, I’ve got other players, but they’re in the ward, so what must I do? It’s life.”
From Naturena, Chiefs registered their first win since February against the ‘fighting for survival’ Tuks this week.
Yes, the win comes in handy as the team prepares for the pain inflicted Downs’ and this could augur well for the under pressure coach Steve Komphela and his technical team.
With talks that second choice goal-minder Riyaad Pieterse not having renewed contract as a result of being a bench-warmer, all eyes will be either on Itu Khune or Brilliant Khuzwayo, depending who the coach opts for.
AmaKhosi has not claimed any silverware this season (the first in the history of football to happen to the Glamour Boys) as they will only strive to settle for top four
bracket spot.
With only handful games left before the league wraps up, Downs’ are leaving nothing to detail and will come at Chiefs with everything they have.
Whether the deadly pair of ‘CBD’ – Leonardo Castro, Khama Billiat and Keegan Dolly will rise to the occasion shall remain to be seen on Saturday evening?
Bitter rivalry will resurface yet again and the grass (better suited for Rugby) will suffer as two bulls charge at each other!
The game kicks off at 20:15
Other fixtures
Friday 29
Maritzburg vs. SusperSport- Harry Gwala Std. 8pm
Saturday
Arrows vs. FS Stars- Chatsworth. 3pm
Polokwane City vs. Aces- Old Peter Mokaba Std. 3pm
Chippa vs. Wits-Bidvest. 6pm
Sunday 01 May
Celtic vs. Ajax CT- Dr Molemela Std. 3pm
Cosmos vs. Tuks- Olen Park.3pm
Monday 02
Bucs vs. Plat Stars- Royal Bafokeng.5pm
Wed 03
Aces vs. Wits- Mbombela Std. 19:30
