Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane believes the Absa Premiership title is still in Kaizer Chiefs’ hands, despite defeating the log leaders on Thursday evening.
A 35th minute goal from Gaston Sirino saw Sundowns secure a 1-0 victory over Amakhosi at the Orlando Stadium to walk away with all three points.
The wins sees Sundowns move level on points with Chiefs but remain in second place as the Soweto giant has a superior goal difference.
‘We played two different halves. We made it difficult for ourselves in the first half. I think Anele could have scored or crossed the ball over there and Gaston faced the goalkeeper and didn’t know what he wanted to do. Those two moments, those are goals, that’s where we made it difficult. Ok unlucky Lebo [Maboe] there, he should have scored. The score could have been different,’ Mosimane told SuperSport TV after.
‘But we survived. We responded to what the question was and what was the question? To launch. Because they always launch. So if the ball is launched and they put Mathoho there, we also put people who can take the ball out. And if you close the sides then it’s okay, then Akumu can have the ball, and also Sasman will launch it. We managed to deal with their strengths, which is aerial balls. Corner kicks that have been traumatising the whole league. And that’s it. What else? There’s nothing more to this game.
‘We took Zwane and Sirino out. We could see they were a bit tired and this was not the game for Sirino and Zwane also wants to play football. So we put Lebo and Phakamani for speed and it worked well. Lebo nearly scored. So thats what we do. We had to focus. The question is we are launching balls in your box. We are playing diagonal balls. We rely on set-pieces and free-kicks. If you deal with that, you are 80 percent okay.
‘You don’t want to face those teams. If you see where those teams are on the log. You don’t want to play those teams. If you want to know about Polokwane, you should watch the game against Kaizer Chiefs. Our programme is tough.
‘And by the way, we’re not top of the log, they [Chiefs] are still there. So these guys have points and they’ve got the goals, so now we have to work against the goals, which is very difficult, you know so it’s still in their hands, it’s not in our hands.’
