Mosimane reluctant to field under-strength Sundowns squad in MTN8 semi against Chippa

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has not decided for sure whether to field a B-team in Wednesday’s MTN8 semifinal second leg match against Chippa United‚ but is leaning towards fielding a full-strength side.

Sundowns lost 2-1 to Zesco United in the first leg of their Caf Champions League semifinal in Ndola‚ Zambia‚ leaving the second leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium this coming Saturday finely in the balance.

The Brazilians have a crazy schedule to contend with.

Mosimane fielded a B team consisting of youngsters and new signings not registered for the Champions League in last Wednesday’s 0-0 Premier League draw against Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala Stadium.

In Ndola this weekend‚ the coach said he would be reluctant to repeat that against dangerous Chippa at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday‚ where the scoreline is locked at 0-0 from last Sunday’s draw in Port Elizabeth.

“For Chippa – I’m not sure. You know what‚ it’s like you’re saying‚ ‘I don’t want to win this game‚ I’ll save myself for the next game’‚” Mosimane said.

“How do you know you’ll win the next one if you don’t want to take this one? So you go with what you have in front of you.

“And let’s get the boys on Friday saying‚ ‘Coach‚ we are tired‚ we cannot do anything’. And then we’ll see what we do.

“When we were chasing the league last season people were saying‚ ‘They’re going for the league and the Nedbank and Champions League – they’ll get tired’.

“Sundowns never got tired – we won the league and with so many points [71].

“We also now have a Chippa game in front of us. And you’re preparing for Zesco and you leave Chippa. What if you don’t get Zesco?

“So go for Zesco. Go for Chippa. And we will see what we get. Somehow‚ somewhere we’ll make a plan. We must make a plan for Zesco.

“But if the heart is good‚ it’s good. How many people have we seen in SA saying they will focus on the [domestic] league‚ this thing [Champions League] is a waste of time? And they got nothing.

“So take what is on front of you.”

Mosimane has diplomatically and cleverly resisted lashing out at the Premier Soccer League for their decision to decline postponing Downs' midweek matches against Maritzburg and Chippa‚ to give the Brazilians full weeks to prepare for their two legs against Zesco.

But he did admit the situation was far from ideal.

“It’s a bit sad‚ hey. Because you would have liked to have seen a Sundowns competing in Maritzburg‚ and collecting three points and protecting the league.

“People have said Sundowns are not going to get 71 points again this season‚ and I was not happy with [Bidvest Wits coach] Gavin Hunt and [SuperSport United coach] Stuart Baxter for saying that.

“But they were right. When I look at the situation in Maritzburg‚ they were right. Maybe we can get 61 points and I think that can win the league.”

For this week‚ perhaps Mosimane could utilise the situation to his advantage. The coach needs to sort out the defensive frailties Tebogo Langerman and Thabo Nthethe showed on Downs’ left side against Zesco.

Perhaps the coach could field his defence and central midfield against Chippa‚ working on resolving those issues‚ and rest some attacking players.

By the sounds of it‚ though‚ Mosimane seems more likely to ask his entire first team to push through the physical exertion and play in both games.

- TMG Digital