Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has told his players - the 18 he managed to get on the plane - to relish that they are now among the eight best teams on the continent this year as they look to get their CAF Champions League campaign off to a flyer away to ES Sefit in Algeria on Saturday.
The Brazilians, who left South Africa on Tuesday night, are considered to be in the ‘Group of Death’ alongside Sefit, Enyimba (Nigeria) and Zamalek (Egypt). However, Mosimane argued they are just as good, although he might not have the same players responsible for helping Sundowns clinch the Absa Premiership due to contractual disputes that led to captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Anthony Laffor and Katlego Mashego refusing to travel.
“History will tell you that Sundowns haven’t been at this stage for many years,” said Mosimane. “I told them to look at where they are now and take it from there. To be honest, we also have a chance again next year (having won the championship) and we can say if we don’t do much right now, this is a dress rehearsal. But why not give the best now because you don’t know what is going to happen next year? The top teams, USM Alger, TP Mazembe, and Esperance are not there. Let’s just go for it. Sometimes when there is less pressure, you can do well.”
Mosimane rates his side’s chances of reaching the semi-finals in September, and indeed the final a month later because of his view that the other group is perhaps weaker. ZESCO United (Zambia), Al-Ahly (Egypt), ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast) and Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) make up Group A.
“In my opinion we are in the ‘Group of Death’, but sometimes with these groups there are too many draws. I am not saying the other group is weak, but when you look at the level, it could have been better. We are stronger at this point in time because in the earlier rounds we won all our homes games,” the coach explained. “But you never know. It’s important to find your level and to really test yourself against the best. And it is always good to win it when you have faced the best. So, let’s go for it because we can’t choose our group.”
Mosimane argued that he did not have to deal with the players’ perceived fragile mindset after their holiday was cut short following CAF’s decision to reinstate them having disqualified AS Vita for fielding an ineligible player in the earlier rounds, including against Sundowns in April.
“I don’t know if it is true that we had to overcome the mental challenge,” he said. “All we had to tell the players is that by the time the competition started we had already set targets and our objective was to go to the group stages and that is where we are. One of the reasons I came to Sundowns was because of the Champions League and the attitude of the club and the board towards this compettion. I needed to make sure the team is in this space all the time and there has never been a year we have missed out.” - The Star
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