Johannesburg - You could almost touch the festive mood at Mamelodi Sundowns, it was palpable, the defending PSL champions gearing up for one more game - a trip to rookies Baroka FC at the Peter Mokaba Stadium tonight - before the six-week break enforced by next month’s Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.
“We are excited,” said Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane yesterday.
“If you ask the players where they are going, everyone has a destination picked. For three weeks they are going to relax. We have another three weeks to prepare before we resume our domestic league (on 8 February).”
Sundowns have taken pleasure out of being robbed of holidays, having played non-stop since winning the PSL title back in May and the Caf Champions League five months later.
Just last week, the Brazilians touched down from Japan, where they lost to both Kashima Antlers (Japan) and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea) at the Fifa Club World Cup - a humbling experience and eye opener, Mosimane said.
The coach has again had to ask his men to give it one final push to cap off a remarkable 2016, and an away fixture to Baroka, who are a point off the foot of the table, threatens to be a spoiler.
“It’s a dangerous game,” Mosimane quipped.
“The roads are empty, the family is relaxing at home with kids back from school. But we are still working. I feel for my players when I think about them because it’s hard enough for me to get up when my wife is at home and go to work during this time of the year.
“So, you can understand the excitement when we think of six weeks of not having to play football. We can’t wait. Do I believe we can win against Baroka? Of course. Do I think we can beat Bloemfontein Celtic when we come back from the break? Of course. This team has that character.”
Sundowns also need to stay sharp if they are to retain their league title, and with their rivals in the championship race stuttering in recent weeks, the five games in hand for the Brazilians could help them build an unassailable lead at the summit.
“Games in hand are not games won,” Mosimane cautioned.
“We won the league with a record 71 points and scored 55 goals. It was unbelievable, but I doubt we can do it again because of the kind of programme we have had in this calendar year.
“Stuart Baxter (SuperSport United coach) and Gavin Hunt (Wits) said we won’t win every game, and I agree with them because we have already lost two compared to last season when we lost three and played five draws (in 30 matches).
“But they are also not going to have it easy because all of us are in Caf competitions next year, and it’s tough to get the balance.
“Cracks will show later when the Nedbank Cup comes around because that is the only trophy left to fight for when not in the running for the league.
“At the moment we are on par with our targets in the domestic league because our points per game ratio is very good. I am not worried about consistency because of our mentality.”
Mosimane also said the number of individual awards for his players was overwhelming. “Dennis Onyango is cleaning up in Uganda,” he explained.
“We were named the Team of the Year at the SA Sports Awards and we are still going to Nigeria for the Caf awards in January (four Sundowns players are up for the coveted African-based Player of the Year). I have also been nominated for Coach of the Year and that is a big deal for me.”