JOHANNESBURG – Pitso Mosimane, who has in recent weeks complained that he is extremely jaded by Mamelodi Sundowns’ busy schedule, will again take on the tough task of reinventing the Brazilians as they are set to lose two key players.
It’s no secret that strikers Percy Tau, who was on Tuesday night crowned the 2018 Footballer of the Season, and Khama Billiat are edging closer to leaving Chloorkop to test themselves elsewhere, probably abroad.
Coach Mosimane has said their imminent departure has left him with no choice but to spend the off-season searching for replacements.
“You can’t go to South America or any other country now to look for quality because nobody is playing, which means I will be spending my time watching videos and scouting. There is just no break,” said Mosimane winner of the Coach of the Season award.
He raised eyebrows recently by revealing he was contemplating going on a year-long sabbatical having endured the trauma of his wife and son being hijacked on their way home from watching Sundowns beat Golden Arrows on April 17.
The club’s busy schedule hasn’t helped either.
“Things are going to be on the edge next season,” he said.
“We are currently playing the Champions League and you know how much we are going to give it. And then I hear that it starts again in December and must finish in May, so where must I give focus? It’s either you focus on the (domestic) league or Champions League. But would you say you don’t want to win the MTN8? I haven’t won it at Sundowns.”
Should Tau and Billiat leave, Mosimane said it would make his eight-time title winners a little unpredictable in as far as what they can achieve.
Khama Billiat is set to leave Sundowns soon. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
“Next week I'll be in Morocco doing my Pro-License Module 2, and then I have to go to the World Cup (in Russia) for about seven days. When I am back, what happens? Pre-season. Maybe if I take a week off, then I can give a better answer about whether I need a sabbatical or not,” he said.
Mosimane, who will also be a studio analyst for SuperSport during the World Cup, said he had another headache trying to get top players to join Sundowns next season because he wants to attempt to retain the championship.
“Our challenge is that we must replace those who leave. We have no excuse because we have back-to-back Champions League and the (domestic) league. This is what contributes to me being tired. I won’t have a life because I have got to make sure Sundowns remains where it is.
“The team has to be at the top every year, and who needs to replace players who leave? Nobody but me. But somewhere, somehow, I’ve got to look after myself.”
@superjourno
The Star