Johannesburg - The consummate planner that is Pitso Mosimane admitted that he’ll only start analysing Mamelodi Sundowns’ opponents at the Fifa Club World Cup once they have settled in Japan.
Sundowns landed in Hong Kong just before 1am on Tuesday morning after departing from OR Tambo International on Monday night.
On Tuesday night, just after 6pm, they will connect to Osaka, where they’ll be based. That’s when Mosimane and his analysts will start their preparations for the global competition, which they have had on their minds since being crowned African champions in October, in earnest.
But because of their hectic domestic schedule, playing catch-up in the league and their unsuccessful defence of the Telkom Knockout, Sundowns have hardly had any time to look at the teams in the tournament that has each confederation’s champions along with Japanese league winners and hosts Kashima Antlers.
As the boys jet off to represent Africa on the world stage, keep track of our season here Masandawana! #Sundowns pic.twitter.com/87OVsSr1Fo
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) December 5, 2016
“I haven’t watched any games and I told the analysts to relax a bit,” Mosimane said.
“They must gather some strength so that when we start, we have enough strength. It’s okay, we have five days before the game. We have enough time. We have two days before the first match. You can easily watch five to six games.”
Mosimane continued: “But we must also not forget to look at our last five games to make some corrections. There have been some loopholes. The good thing is that the goals have been coming.”
Sundowns will know on Thursday whether they’ll start their campaign on Sunday against the home team Antlers or Oceania champions Auckland City.
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane. Photo: Boxer Ngwenya
“I would rather face the team from New Zealand,” Mosimane said.
“To play against the hosts is tough, home decisions and all that. But with Auckland City we are both on neutral ground.”
Sundowns travelled with their entire squad to Japan even though only 23 are registered for the tournament.
Between 40-50 fans, all expenses paid by the club, will join the team later this week just before their opening match on Sunday.
Around a hundred fans created a festive atmosphere at the airport as they sent their heroes off. Khama Billiat, Keagan Dolly and veterans Teko Modise and Thabo Nthethe were among the favourites, with the supporters asking to take pictures with them.
For Dolly and Billiat, in their early years of representing their senior national teams, this tournament could be the start of many to come where they’ll be flying their countries’ flags in a global space.
But for Nthethe and Modise, on the other side of 30, this could be among their last moments representing South Africa as their chances of playing for Bafana Bafana fade with each day. Mosimane had a message for both sets of players.
“I said to the younger ones that, you guys need to go to big teams in Europe,” Mosimane said. “This is the space to market yourself in front of a global crowd. To the elders, I said that if Xavi can make a transfer at 34, then you can also do that at 33. If a big player is over 30 and there is a request, we should always be fair and let him go.”
There’s no doubt that if Sundowns go all the way to the final, where they’re likely to face European giants Real Madrid, the world will be watching them.
To get to the final, Sundowns will have to defy the odds and win their first two games - including an encounter against South American champions Atletico Nacional in a semi-final.
“Against all odds was the slogan for the Champions League. We have that now, it’s in the cabinet. Maybe the new slogan is: The sky is the limit; Japan must fall. It’s all in our hands.”