Pitso Mosimane lays down challenge for Soweto giants

Motjeka Madisa of Mamelodi Sundowns challenged by Lyle Foster of Orlando Pirates during the Absa Premiership 2017/18 match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates at Loftus Versveld Stadium, Pretoria South Africa on 13 January 2018 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Thursday Mar 22, 2018. 11:00

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has challenged Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs to qualify for next year’s CAF club competitions.

Sundowns are safely through to the group stage of the Champions League for a third successive year, while SuperSport United and Bidvest Wits are in the playoff round of the Confederation Cup.

Mosimane, a former national team coach, argues that having South African teams perform strongly on the continent is a major help to Bafana Bafana, and wants to see two of the country’s biggest clubs, Pirates and Chiefs, do the same.

“I see Chiefs coming next year, according to my opinion. I also think Pirates are coming next year and it’s good. Let’s all go and represent South Africa well and let’s get stressed,” said Mosimane.

“We’ve got four positions, we should go. SuperSport did well to take us to the [Confederation Cup] final. It’s difficult, you saw what happened after that, mileage and all that.

“[Jeremy] Brockie [who was signed by Sundowns from SuperSport in the January transfer window] has not recovered, but we need to be there if want to do well in Cup of Nations.

“We need to help Stuart [Baxter, SA coach]. He should look at players that could adapt on those condition because when you play away in Champions League it’s not nice football. You need to take fighters there,” he added.