JOHANNESBURG – Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane confirmed something that is already public knowledge – he enjoys playing against Orlando Pirates.
“It’s proper football. Don’t you like it? There are goals, there is movement and there are breaks. They will catch us on a transition. They will trouble us. That’s what you want to see,” Mosimane said. “The game becomes exciting. We have the direct opposite of what we normally get (oppositions who sit back and park the bus) to an extent that sometimes they push us back. It’s beautiful.
“They are a transitional team. They have a lot of speed. Once they cut the ball from their own half, they come out with so much speed – it’s not funny. We need to look after that because that’s one of the major strengths that they have. They also play. They have very good players. The challenge is that you don’t know which team will come up. They use a lot of players. Even at the back they use a lot of players, so you never know what’s coming to you.
“To show that they are doing the right thing, there is uniformity in the way they play. It doesn’t matter who they use, which is a sign of a team that has found their way of play.”
The Brazilians host the Buccaneers at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday in the Absa Premiership.
The last time Pirates were at the venue, Sundowns wiped the floor with them in a dominant 6-0 win that pushed the Ghost to the edge.
Angry Pirates fans invaded the pitch, destroyed property, clashed with Sundowns’ fans who stopped them from entering the change room after pulling out television cables, which resulted in a TV blackout.
Sundowns won 3-1 the first leg of the tie this season at Orlando Stadium.
Mosimane: You don’t know which Pirates team will come up. Video: Njabulo Ngidi
“Pirates are a totally different team to the one we beat 6-0,” Mosimane said. “I think that you saw at Orlando Stadium. We were on the edge. But that game will deceive you when you look at the 3-1 scoreline. It wasn’t a true reflection of the match. You shouldn’t be fooled by that. They also had us against the wall. But we know how to play like that too. We are also good on transition. We have to respect them.
“But one thing I know is that they will come at us. Otherwise they would have changed the whole plan. I have watched all the games they have played this season. I don’t think that they will sit back. ‘Bhakaniya’ doesn’t sit back.”
Mosimane constantly praises Pirates for going toe-to-toe with them. But at times that seems like mind games – ‘Jingles’ provoking Pirates to go toe-to-toe with Sundowns, which hardly ends well for teams who do that as the Brazilians pack a meaner punch.
Meanwhile, Mosimane refused to be drawn into talking about whether they will sign Jeremy Brockie or not.
SuperSport United coach Eric Tinkler said Brockie’s mind wasn’t at Matsatsantsa a Pitori anymore. Brockie sent a transfer request to the club in the last transfer window. SuperSport refused to budge, but it seems they might in this window.
Mosimane revealed that they will add three more signings for their Caf Champions League squad that they will finalise on Monday.
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IOL Sport