Tag Archives: Pitso Mosimane

We Might Know Whats Wrong With Chiefs But What’s Up With Sundowns?

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Drama. That’s the one word I use to describe this weekend’s installment of the PSL title race. Actually, now that I think about it, the word should be ‘comedy’ because as a neutral I was laughing at the unfortunate circumstances Chiefs and Sundowns both found themselves in.😆😆

Log leaders Kaizer Chiefs lost 1-0 via a 94th-minute Bidvest Wits goal. Sundowns wasted a chance to leapfrog Amakhosi for the first time this season when they too lost 0-1 to a relegation threaten Baroka FC a few hours later.

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It seems as though both teams are choking when the pressure is at its highest. The dip in form for Kaizer Chiefs doesn’t come as a surprise to me. No, I am not psychic. Chiefs are not much of an offensive threat and their defence has holes in it. Sundowns, on the other hand, are more of an interesting story. They are the reigning champions. They have been here before. Their last two championship-winning seasons went down to the wire. That team managed to win important games at the business end of the season. This team is floundering against the likes of Baroka (no offence).

We will never know what is going on behind the scenes but there is clearly something wrong with Sundowns. Chiefs faults may be bigger so Sundowns may win the championship by default.

By @chizfootball (the greatest footy journo on the internet)

The Soccer Podcast With No Name (Yet) Ep.28

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Bongani ‘Da Bongz’ Nkosi and Thabang ‘Cheez’ Kgeledi discuss this week’s soccer topics.

The Discussion This Week:

1. What Are The Implications Of The Sundowns/Chiefs Game?
2. Which Team Has the Edge Going Into The Last Three Game? Sundowns or Chiefs?
3. Summarise Orlando Pirates Season?
4. What Will A Move Away From Barcelona Mean For Messi and Barca?
5. Where Will Lionel Messi Best Fit? PSG or Manchester City?
6. How Long Till Frank Lampard Feels The Pressure At Chelsea?
7. Quick Hits!

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Sundowns Park The Bus Against Chiefs – And It Worked

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Last night Mamelodi Sundowns beat Kaizer Chiefs to go level on points with Amakhosi on top the PSL log. As interesting as the result may be the intriguing part of it is how they did it.

Well, maybe I shouldn’t use the word ‘intriguing’ because scoring one goal and then defending it for the rest of the game isn’t ‘intriguing’ at all. It’s actually quite negative and boring.  But what made it fascinating was who was doing it.

Mamelodi Sundowns came into yesterday’s game knowing that anything less than a win would surely mean the end of their title hopes. Pitso Mosimane tried convincing us in his pre-match interview that the game ‘isn’t a title decider‘. We didn’t fall for his lousy acting and figured Sundowns would come out guns blazing.

Surprisingly, they didn’t. In the first half, Downs only used four players (Sirino, Zwane, Meza, and Mkhulise) in attack whilst the rest of the team stayed behind the ball. It seemed as though Pitso may have been playing not lose the game rather than to win it. 

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Chiefs v Sundowns: Who Has The Upper Hand Going Into Tonight’s Title Decider?

In the 34th minute, Gaston Sirino caught the Chiefs defense napping when he ran onto the end of Zwane’s clever flick to score. This is when Pitso called for the team’s bus driver to park the team bus in front of their goal for the remainder of the match. Chiefs huffed and puffed but they could blow the Sundowns mansion down.

Parking the bus is not a new thing in football. I hate it, but teams have to do what they have to do. I, however, didn’t expect it from a team with the most talented squad in the league who also happen to the defending champions. This is the most negative I’ve seen Sundowns play and was disappointed.

Kaizer Chiefs are still top of the log on goal difference but have the tougher last three-game. Last night’s match sealed the fate of the championship. Sundowns will be crowned champions.

By @chizfootball (the greatest footy journo on the internet)

Chiefs v Sundowns: Who Has The Upper Hand Going Into Tonight’s Title Decider?

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Tonight log leaders Kaizer Chiefs face second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns in an Absa Premiership title decider. Kaizer Chiefs are at the top of the PSL table with 53 points, Mamelodi Sundowns are behind them by 3 points. 

Like I said yesterday, I believe if Sundowns win this game, they win the title. If Kaizer Chiefs win this game, they win the title. If this game ends in a draw, Kaizer Chiefs win the title.

Let me start off by stating the obvious, Mamelodi Sundowns need the 3 points more than Kaizer Chiefs do. This should worry Pitso Mosimane because his team has been trash post-lockdown. They recorded one loss, three draws, and only one win. That’s 6 out of a possible 15 points.

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BUT! Sundowns go into this title decider after a morale-boosting win against a negative Golden Arrows team on Monday. Sundowns haven’t clicked in attack as of yet but the team has started playing better in the past couple of games.

Kaizer Chiefs have had an equally disappointing post lockdown run, picking up 5 from a possible 12. In all fairness, Ernst Middendorp’s team had been below standard even before the Coronavirus. It seems as though teams have figured out their one-dimensional play of crosses and set pieces.

Speaking of set pieces, tonight they will be without Samir Nurković and Leonardo Castro. The loss of their aerial threat from set-plays is a huge loss for Kaizer Chiefs. 

Sundowns have struggled to breakdown teams with well-structured defences. They have even struggled even more to stop teams from catching them on the counter-attack.  Will Ernst Middendorp is brave enough to replace his two good but slow strikers with an average but pacier attack. Kambole, Billiat, and Zuma might do the trick. Scrapping the 3-5-2 for a 4-3-3, and playing on the counter-attack.

With all that being said, you’d have to say Mamelodi Sundowns has the edge going into the game. Kaizer Chiefs confidence is low and their defence leaks goals for fun. They have conceded 7 goals in their 4 bubble games. Chiefs have scored 6 on the other end but four of them have been from through set-pieces and they are without two of their best headers of the ball. I don’t see how Chiefs will score and how they will keep out one of the best attacks in the league. 

By @chizfootball (the greatest footy journo on the internet)

Chiefs v Sundowns: Absa Premiership Cup Final

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Let’s begin by getting the ‘facts’ out of the way. If Sundowns win this game, they win the title. If Kaizer Chiefs win this game, they win the title. If this game ends in a draw, Kaizer Chiefs win the title. As you can see Mamelodi Sundowns need to win this game more than Kaizer Chiefs does. 

You: “…but after the game, there will still be three games left to play so…’🤷🏿‍♂️

Yes, I know but the result of this game will do one of two things: crush Kaizer Chiefs’ flakey moral or deal a death blow to Mamelodi Sundowns’ confidence. I don’t see any team recovering from an unfavourable result plus I’m a psychic. 

As the title says this is a cup final. Do or die. Wafa-wafa. Sure, Kaizer Chiefs have the advantage because they don’t need to win BUT, they’d be foolish to go in this looking for a draw. Mamelodi Sundowns got lucky on Monday with their last gasp win against Golden Arrows. Their confidence will be reaching its peak. 

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Kaizer Chiefs as currently constructed cannot match Sundowns pound for pound. They’d get knocked out before the first water break. It’s not that Chiefs don’t have good players, it’s just that they have not being utilized correctly (that’s another story for another writer).

The suspension of their leading goal scorer Samir Nurković and striker Leonardo Castro’s injury concerns are big blows. However, Sundowns aren’t great at defending quick counter-attacks. Ernst Middendorp may choose to replace the unavailable strikers with forwards that have pace.  

We’ll chat more about which team has the upper hand going into the huge clash tomorrow.

By @chizfootball (the greatest footy journo on the internet)

The Title Is Now Truly In Kaizer Chiefs Hands, Will They Grab It?

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Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates played to a goalless draw in the return of PSL last night. The result puts Kaizer Chiefs firmly in the pole position to win the title but, will they be to capitalize? 

The game was boring. It had little goal-mouth action but big implications in the PSL championship race. Mamelodi Sundowns went into the game four points behind Kaizer Chiefs with a game in hand.  They are now three points adrift the log leaders with the same amount of matches played.

When Pitso Mosimane said it’s Kaizer Chiefs’ title to lose last week, he was trolling. As of today, the statement is 100% accurate. Even though this isn’t a result he would have wanted, Pitso Mosimane is a glass half full type of guy, “Ja, a game of two halves for us, we were much better in the first-half, second-half we have to give it to Orlando Pirates, let’s be honest and they missed two chances to be honest. Okay, we had one [chance] but not really convincing,” Mosimane told SuperSport TV.

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“The second-half they took it, you could see they were much stronger, much fresher than us in the second-half. We survived a bit, Mosa [Lebusa] calf [injury], you know. But it’s okay, it’s a good point, we’ll take a point. We’re playing Orlando Pirates remember?”

Kaizer Chiefs come up against Bidvest Wits tonight. Wits are coming off a loss against Sundowns over the weekend in the Nedbank Cup semi-final. Gavin Hunt and his men who are now mostly playing for pride, won’t be a pushover. 

I can never predict how a team is going to play after a five months lay-off but if Chiefs play anything like they did before the lockdown, then they are toast. Amakhosi, however, have the advantage of not having played a game last weekend and have a three-point buffer. It’s Kaizer Chiefs title to lose. 

By @cheezfootball (the greatest footy journo on the internet)

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Who Needs To Win This Game More, Mosimane or Hunt?

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Tomorrow sees the return of South African football with the semi-final of the Nedbank Cup. As much as I would like to act like I care about the first semi-final between Baroka and Bloemfontein Celtic, the truth is I don’t and you probably don’t too. The game we are both interested in is Mamelodi Sundowns versus Bidvest Wits. Pitso Mosimane versus Gavin Hunt. The infamous spenders versus the now, infamous sellers. 

In the run-up to Saturday’s clash, Gavin Hunt has been saying all the cliche politically correct things a person who is about to be jobless in a month would say:

“It is important for us as professionals to finish as professionals and do a proper job,” said Hunt.

“Let us treat the game with respect. It will be difficult because we have so much to deal with. We will show professionalism until the end.

“It is not only the physical but also psychological issues we have to deal with.”

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Pitso Mosimane: ‘Wits priority Nedbank Cup not league’

Pitso Mosimane kept to his style of 10% complementing the opponent, and 90% playing mind games. 

“We have a big game against Wits and if you listen to their statements they’re saying that they want to go out in style,” said Mosimane.

“Wits’ players and coaches have a lot of incentives to win the cup and that’s why they’ve prioritized the Nedbank Cup.

“Over the last few days, they have only spoken about the Cup. It gives me an indication that the league is not a priority,” he added. “I am not talking on their behalf but just talking about what they have said.”

Bidvest Wits, in the public sphere, have turned into a club that everybody is feeling sorry for. Their sale came out of nowhere and no one at the club, except for the owners, knew about it or even expected it. It’s a sad way for a club that has been in the league for so long to go out.  But, and the great poet Tupa Shakur once said ‘Life Goes On’.  There is a football game that needs to be played.

Who needs to win this game more? 

Wits want to go out with a bang. The pride of the players and the coach is a stake. They are definitely going to bring the game to Sundowns. Downs have their own reasons as to why they’d like a place in the Nedbank Cup final. They are on the march for a domestic treble. They have already clinched the Telkom Knockout and they are still very much in the league race. 

With a game where both teams have about the same amount of quality, it will boil down to desire. I think Wits want this game more than Sundowns. Mosimane, like Hunt, would love to win the Nedbank Cup, but Jingles has bigger fish to fry in the Absa Premiership.

By @cheezfootball (the greatest footy journo on the internet)

Pitso Mosimane: ‘Wits priority Nedbank Cup not league’

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Mamelodi Sundowns host Bidvest Wits in the semi-final of the Nedbank Cup Saturday night. I use the word host loosely because (a) the game will not taking place at Loftus and (b) there will, of course, be no supporters in the stadium. Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane spoke to TimesLIVE about the upcoming clash. Mosimane touched on the sale of the Wits franchise to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM). He also said he feels Gavin Hunt’s team seem to be prioritizing the Nedbank Cup.  

“We have a big game against Wits of course and if you listen to their statements‚ they’re saying that they want to go out in style‚” Mosimane told TimesLIVE.

“Obviously there are a lot of incentives for the (Wits) players and the coaches (to win the cup)‚ so that’s why they’ve prioritized the Nedbank Cup. I’m saying what they’re saying in the media.

“They haven’t said anything about the league. They have only spoken about the cup‚ so that gives me an indication that the league is not the priority to them.

“I’m not talking on their behalf‚ but I’m talking about what they’ve said.”

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Football is a cruel game. Not only on the pitch but also in the boardroom. The sale of Bidvest Wits came as a shock to many and most surprisingly, it came as a shock to the players and team’s staff too.  

In the same interview, Pitso Mosimane called Bidvest Wits “a wounded lion”. I think he may be poking the wounded animal with a stick. I’m not too sure what Pitso is trying to achieve by pointing out Wits’ priorities. Mosimane says Wits “…haven’t said anything about the league,…” However, all statements made by players and Gavin Hunt about the game on Saturday, came when said players and coach were asked about said game.

Could this be his masterplan? Pitso’s Mamelodi Sundowns side found Bidvest Wits hard to beat in the league this season having played two draws. Is Mosimane throwing down the gauntlet to Bidvest Wits to show how much they really want the Nedbank Cup? Like: “You guys said you want to win this right? So come and win it.” This would put his team at an advantage because of the less emotional approach to Saturday’s game. 

Maybe Mosimane is right. Maybe Wits should and are focusing on winning the Nedbank Cup over the league. Wits are 6th, 10 points behind log leaders Kaizer Cheifs with 9 games left to play. I am not liking their chances to win the league. Injuries to key players and losses in big games has hurt them. And put them in a hole that may be too deep to climb out of.  All that being said, I still wouldn’t put it past Pitso Mosimane playing mind games on the eve of a big game. 

By @cheezfootball (the greatest footy journo on the internet)

Pitso Mosimane: ‘it’s Chiefs’ title to lose…’

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Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane is insisting that Kaizer Chiefs are in a better position to win the league that his team is. 

“The league is not in our hands, it’s in Chiefs’ hands. They don’t need anybody’s favour. All they have to do is win their remaining matches and they’re champions.” he told the Sunday Times

“Anybody can win the league even SuperSport United can,… Football is not the way we say it. Football is on the pitch and it’s played on the pitch: and then it’s a different story.

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“I remove my heart from being emotional about all these talks. It’s our supporters who are on that. Same as Chiefs, it’s their 50th anniversary and they’d like to celebrate that with winning the league.”

Jingles is back to playing mind games again. Pitso Mosimane knows by saying “The league is not in our hands, it’s in Chiefs’ hands”, he is putting all the pressure on Ernst Middendorp and Kaizer Chiefs.

When he says “All they have to do is win their remaining matches and they’re champions.” Pitso conveniently forgets to mention that if Sundowns win all their remaining games they also win the league. 

Mamelodi Sundowns have been here before. They are two-time defending league champions for a reason. They know how to get the job done in the business end of the season. If Kaizer Chiefs had a bigger lead or/and an easier fixture list for their last eight games, they would have been my favourites. But, as of right now I’m liking Sundowns chances. 

 

6 Questions About The Restart Of The PSL Championship Race

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Remember the PSL? Well, it’s back. I answer 6 questions about the restart, including who has the most pressure to win the PSL championship and many more.

1. Who is the team with momentum?

Mamelodi Sundowns.

It’s difficult to talk about momentum because no team has played a competitive football match for four and a half months. Going into the lockdown Sundowns had won four of their five league games.

2. Which team has benefited from the break?

Kaizer Chiefs.

Amakhosi went it to the lockdown on a run of two wins, two losses, and one draw in their last five PSL games – that isn’t championship-winning form.

Four and a half months is a long time. This feels like a new season. The time will surely rejuvenate Ernst Middendorp’s team to refocus. 

3. Who will Kaizer Chiefs replace Maluleka with?

Kearyn Baccus is a decent player. He is actually pretty good but injuries kept him out for much of the season. Baccus might not have Maluleka’s passing range but he makes up for it with his other attributes. 

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