Pitso Mosimane hails Sundowns after Champions League progression

by Graeme Jackson

Monday Mar 19, 2018. 12:00

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has hailed his team after they secured progression into the group stage of the CAF Champions League.


The Brazilians defeated Rwanda’s Rayon Sports 2-0 (both on the day and on aggregate) on Sunday evening to become the first South African team to reach the group phase for a third straight year.


“The first half was pleasing for me with a rain-soaked pitch. These boys showed integrity. They fought. The mentality was different from the other games we’ve been playing lately," Mosimane told SuperSport TV.


“On a pitch like this, they never complained about the pitch being too heavy. They competed against strong boys. Percy [Tau] fought, Sbu Vilakazi fought also. The first half was very good.


“I don’t care about the second half. The pitch was okay we could play our own game. But the first half, they showed integrity. They showed that they can play Champions League under any conditions.”


‘Jingles’ is delighted with the way Sundowns’ combinations are coming together and expects them to improve as their continental campaign goes on.

“What’s good is that our combinations upfront with Vila and Percy is happening. Percy is not scoring. Vila comes to the party scoring. Gaston [Sirino] is on his way as well," he added.

“Mshishi [Themba Zwane]fights too. Shuga [Tiyani Mabunda] and Keke [Hlompho Kekana] were solid. Denis [Onyango] what a save in the first half, kept us in the game. So it’s good.

“This is the Champions League, you play under any conditions. You don’t complain, but try to win at home that’s it. When we won the Champions League, we scored two goals at home all the time.

“When you score two goals at home, it doesn’t matter what happens away,” he concluded.