Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has again insisted his team doesn’t need to beat Kaizer Chiefs to win the league, while also responding to Ernst Middendorp’s recent comments on referees.
The Brazilians went within two points of the Glamour Boys on Wednesday night as Mauricio Affonso scored a stoppage-time goal to seal a 1-0 victory over Highlands Park.
Mosimane’s charges now have the chance to overtake the Soweto giants as the two face off on Sunday at Loftus Stadium.
Speaking to SuperSport TV after the match against the Lions of the North, Mosimane quickly insisted that he will not get emotional about Sunday’s game.
‘We don’t need to beat Kaizer Chiefs. Why should we beat Kaizer Chiefs? We don’t need to beat Kaizer Chiefs to win the league, we have so many points to play for. Even if you lose against Chiefs, Pirates and you win the rest, you win the league. So, we’re not going to be emotional about the situation. Yes, we don’t want to lose to them; yes, our supporters don’t want that; yes, we’re playing at home, we want to win. But I’m not emotional about it, we have to be smart,’ Mosimane said.
‘We know how to win the championship. We have won the championship a lot, nine championships. We know how to win the league. This is about winning the league, it’s not about fighting the guy who’s on form. They are on form, they are doing well, they are strong, they are physical. Benni was complaining after, you know the issues, the stories we speak about them,’ he added.
Mosimane then responded to comments from Chiefs coach Middendorp that coaches should leave the referees alone after his team’s penalty shootout victory over Cape Town City over the weekend.
‘It is a story with them, hopefully things will turn around. I’m waiting for Middendorp to talk when things don’t go well for him. I’m just waiting because I know his story, when he was at Maritzburg and everywhere else, he was facing the DC [disciplinary committee ] every day, why? Because of fighting the referee, he forgot now. Now he’s on a gravy train, his time is coming,’ concluded the former Bafana coach.