Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane, you can be sure, will speak his mind no matter the occasion.
The temperamental and loquacious coach was at it once again after his side reached the final of the Nedbank Cup courtesy of Mzikayise Mashaba’s wonder strike that ensured victory over Vasco Da Gama at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
From expressing displeasure at the venue for the final – Port Elizabeth, calling himself a “crazy coach” to poetically vowing to come back stronger next season, Mosimane was in his element.
Though treading carefully the coach was not happy with the choice of facing Ajax Cape Town in the final of the Nedbank Cup at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in PE.
“The venue is out of our hands. We don’t control that. Whether we like it or not, we will go. If you ask my opinion, I would not like to go to Port Elizabeth but I have to go.
“I would like to go to Durban, I think PE suits Ajax better. That’s my opinion. But I must be careful of what I say. It’s difficult for our people to get there. It’s difficult for Sundowns. I don’t know the decisions, who makes them? It’s not for me,” said Mosimane.
With the disappointment of losing the Absa Premiership title this season to Kaizer Chiefs, Mosimane vowed to fight with his all to win it and also called himself a crazy coach who can win everything on offer next season. In a typical politician’s style, Mosimane rendered a rhetoric.
“Anything is possible. I am a crazy coach. I believe that we can win everything next year. I mean, why not?
“If I went to the semi-finals of the Telkom Knockout, I can go to the final. If I made the final of the Nedbank Cup, I believe I can win the Nedbank Cup. If I came second, I believe I can take it one notch up and win the league. If I lost 3-2 on aggregate to TP Mazempe, I believe I can score one goal to take me through.
“That’s the reality, it’s not dreams or emotions. The team is improving all the time,” said Mosimane.
Against Vasco, Sundowns battled until Mashaba unleashed a 25-yard thunderbolt to break the deadlock.
Tomorrow Mosimane will be hoping his men can put one over Kaizer Chiefs in a quest to regain some pride.
“Before the tussle, Sundowns will give Chiefs a guard of honour to salute them for winning the championship this season. After that it will be war as Sundowns fight for pride and a better position.
“We didn’t just drop the ball. We gave our best to try and win the league but circumstances were difficult for us.
“The team is improving. We are trying to fight for the CAF Confederation Cup if we win the cup. We are trying in our next two games to give us a position in the CAF Champions League. It’s not easy games – Chiefs and Platinum Stars.
“So we still have to fight hard,” said Mosimane. - The Star