Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane is sending a wrong message.
This is the view of his former coach and mentor Ted Dumitru, who feels statements made by the loquacious coach are confusing.
Mosimane has, on countless occasions, said he was “building a team for the future”. However, Dumitru says the erstwhile striker, whom he coached at Sundowns, is going about it the wrong way.
“That’s a wrong message,” said Dumitru. “If you spend, you can’t say you are building. Building and buying don’t go together. We don’t doubt Pitso’s coaching abilities.
“I have been supporting Pitso for a long time. As one who supported his coaching career and expected him to succeed at Sundowns, obviously I am concerned about certain aspects in the team performance that are impeding progress.”
So far this season Mosimane has recruited 16 players, mostly experienced campaigners, to the side sitting second in the league, trailing log leaders Kaizer Chiefs by nine points.
“The statement that he is building is contradicting reality. I think the statement made by Pitso that the club is in the phase of ‘building the team’ must be corrected as it creates confusion among supporters. It is impossible to ‘build’ a team when the average age of players is 28,” said Dumitru.
With new players – Kennedy Mweene, 29, Bryce Moon, 27, Katlego Mashego, 31, Cuthbert Malajila, 28, Rodney Ramagalela, 25, Khama Billiat, 23, Bongani Zungu, 21, Mzikhayise Mashaba, 25, Dove Wome, 22, Tiyane Mabunda, 25, Mukuka Mulenga, 20, Sibusiso Khumalo, 22 and Thabo Nthethe, 29, Mosimane was hoping these players would gel with those he inherited when he joined the Brazilians. However, they are finding the going tough with inconsistent performances.
“If you want to build a team, you need a squad of mainly young players. You need to create 30 percent room for young players to take over. SuperSport United and Ajax Cape Town have a lot of youngsters. That’s building a team,” said Dumitru, who was in charge of Sundowns development as technical director in 2008.
The multiple PSL championship winning coach feels Sundowns should have stuck with a generation of youngsters that turned out for Als Puk Tawana under his tutelage.
Players such as Siyanda Xulu, Buhle Mkhwanazi, Doctor Mampuru and Abel Mabaso were part of the side Dumitru believes should have set Sundowns on a good path.
“ At the age of 21-23 a player can be marginally improved, but this would never happen with players 28-30 or older. These aspects are more important than whatever else may need attention at Sundowns.” - Pretoria News