Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane admits that his side is going through a rough patch but insists that there is no need to panic after being dumped out of the Telkom Knockout by Chippa United.

Former Masandawana player Samuel Julies netted to condemn Sundowns to a first-round exit from the Telkom Knockout. The loss also saw Sundowns concede their third consecutive loss in all competitions and Mosimane admits that his side weren’t up for the challenge against the Chilli Boys.

‘We didn’t look like scoring to be honest,’ he said in post-match comments.

‘We only had half chances in front of goal. You can’t say we didn’t play, you can’t say Chippa didn’t allow us to play, we controlled the game.

‘But controlling the game doesn’t mean winning the game.

‘Chippa scored from the break. If someone is playing from the break I don’t think they are pressing us,’ he added.

The former Bafana Bafana mentor suggested that it’s time for his side to reflect on their losses after a difficult period.

‘We keep going, we keep trying, we don’t give up.

‘We mustn’t forget where we were before. It’s our time, we have to pay the price and we have to move on – keep trying, dig deeper. That’s my job.

‘I told the boys to try harder and if we don’t win, we have to try more. We must create more chances, try score more, dig deeper.

‘We need to reflect on why we are losing. We can’t push panic buttons and say we don’t have a team or the team doesn’t play well.

‘I like my team so much, I have been with this team for the last five years, I know where this team comes from. We are going through a difficult phase, when you go through this phase I must raise my hat as a couch and lead this team.

‘I’m not going to hide, I must lead this team in difficult times. I am emphasising that we are playing well.

‘As much as you win games, you also need to lose games. This is part of development, it is part of seeing what we have as a team and what we do in these situations.

‘As coaches you are being punished and criticised, it’s a package. Sometimes you are praised, sometimes you are criticised. This should not affect your mentality or your belief in your team, or yourself. You should not start doubting yourself.

‘We are still good. We have to keep going, our life doesn’t end today and our careers in football don’t end here,’ he concluded.