Pitso Mosimane and Co on brink of greatness as potential party poopers Zamalek lie in wait

11 October 2016 - 18:18 By Marc Strydom

Mamelodi Sundowns‚ their coach Pitso Mosimane‚ and their players stand on the verge of the biggest two matches of their existence and careers in the two legs of the Caf Champions League final‚ Mosimane has said. Former Bafana Bafana coach Mosimane openly admitted that the Champions League final‚ where Sundowns meet Egyptian giants Zamalek in the first leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday‚ is the biggest game of his career.He speculated that for all Sundowns’ players‚ apart perhaps from goalkeeper and Zambian 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winner Kennedy Mweene‚ this was also their most important game. And Mosimane said that as Downs stand on the verge of realising his and president Patrice Motsepe’s dream of conquering Africa‚ this will also be Sundowns’ biggest game.“For my profile‚ yes. Personally‚ yes. And I think the biggest game for the club also‚” Mosimane said on Tuesday.“I don’t think Sundowns have played any game as big as this. And also for the players.“Maybe Kennedy is the only one who can say he had a bigger game by winning the Cup of Nations. For the rest of us‚ no.” Sundowns go into the Champions League final having suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bidvest Wits in the MTN8 final in Nelspruit two Saturdays ago.Asked if one of his priorities has been to get the MTN8 reversal out of his players’ minds ahead of facing Egyptian giants Zamalek‚ Mosimane responded that the two competitions are simply two different kettles of fish.“This is a chalk and cheese cup‚ by comparison. The other one [MTN8] you play for three weeks. This is nine months‚ and with kilometres‚” the coach said.“Playing in foreign countries‚ with different referees‚ training pitches where the grass comes to your knees. Transits for six to eight hours.“And you’re still coming back‚ coming here [to SA]‚ and when you’re back travelling to Polokwane in a day-and-a-half and trying to win it because you’re trying to win the league. “The stress levels are totally different. The formations are different. The officiating is totally different from here.“There you need to toughen up. You can compete domestically. You know the style of refereeing‚ the pattern‚ the opposition‚ how they approach things.“Over there you’re going out of your comfort zone.“So for you to arrive in the final of the Champions League‚ and win the local league‚ you can’t compare those to the MTN8‚ with three games and then you win.“I’m not trying to say the MTN is not important. But anyone can win it. How many coaches have won it? Even I did 10 years back. But how many have won the Champions League?”The second leg of the Champions League final is at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria on Sunday‚ October 23. - TMG Digital..

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