Mosimane: Sundowns not weak despite Billiat, Tau departure

by Staff Reporter

Tuesday Aug 21, 2018. 13:30

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane has defended the strength of his squad following the departure of Percy Tau and Khama Billiat.

The Brazilians have started strongly in the Absa Premiership and MTN8, but have struggled to assert their dominance in the CAF Champions League this season and currently sit in third place in Group C following a 1-0 loss to defending champions Wydad Casablanca this past weekend.

Sundowns now need to beat Horoya in Pretoria on matchday six if they are to advance into the knockout stages and Mosiamane admitted that losing both Tau and Billiat, who played an integral part in leading the club to glory in 2016, has affected their progress.

“We lost two important players, Khama Billiat and Percy Tau to the English Premier League. So that creates a little bit of a difference,” Mosimane is quoted as saying.

“It’s football, it’s the power of the Euro, we have to sell the players. But I don’t think we are weak.”

Billiat joined Absa Premiership rivals Kaizer Chiefs ahead of the 2018-19 season following five successful years at Chloorkop. Last season's Player of The Season, Tau, signed for Brighton & Hove Albion before being sent on-loan to the Belgium Second Division.

Sundowns are in league action on Wednesday evening against Highlands Park before heading to the Mother City to take on Cape Town City in a MTN8 quarterfinal showdown.