“This year we take it (the Absa Premiership) back,” Mamelodi Sundowns’ coach Pitso Mosimane proclaimed after seeing his side get the better of the reigning champions Kaizer Chiefs in Pretoria on Saturday - to edge closer to winning a record seventh league title in the PSL era.
With those words, a six-point lead and a commanding performance to comfortably beat Chiefs, Mosimane and his charges basically gave the PSL the go-ahead to engrave Sundowns’ name in the trophy that has had two homes in the past three seasons, Naturena and Chloorkop.
The trophy’s days in Naturena are numbered, as Chiefs put on a timid defence of the title they won last season and three seasons ago. In between those campaigns Sundowns won it, and they look set to wrestle it back. If Bidvest Wits don’t beat Mpumalanga Black Aces tomorrow, the Brazilians could be crowned champions on Wednesday - which would see the Clever Boys go from title challengers to having to give Sundowns a guard of honour when they walk into Bidvest Stadium on May 11.
As much as Gavin Hunt has constantly downplayed Wits’ title credentials, the side pushed Sundowns and seeing them walk into Milpark as champions would hurt which is why Mosimane doesn’t want his side to go into that match needing a result.
“We have to fight for our lives when we go to Tuks, so that when we go to Bidvest, no matter what happens there, we are in the driver’s seat,” Mosimane said.
“I am happy that we got the goals (against Chiefs) because you never know (it might come down to the goal difference to decide the league winners). We might not win against Tuks. We might draw. But we have the goals. We aren’t going to let the league slip out of our hands now and be excited.
“If we don’t win against Tuks, we shouldn’t lose.”
Mosimane was an emotional wreck during the 95 minutes his side slugged it out against Chiefs, angry when he saw Lorenzo Gordinho’s goal with his hand count and bemused when Sundowns were denied what looked like a penalty. When the Brazilians were eventually awarded a penalty, he couldn’t watch it.
When referee Robert Smith blew for full-time, he celebrated like Sundowns had won the league. That’s because he hasn’t forgotten how they lost the title to Chiefs last season, putting it down to the 1-1 draw with Aces in May last year where he felt that referee Thabo Nkosi ‘decided the league’.
Asked which moments this season made him realise that Downs will be crowned champions, it’s more than one.
“Important moments from us are if you can get four points from a team like Chiefs, get six points from Orlando Pirates, six points from Free State Stars - especially if you win away,” he said.
“You go to Bloemfontein, you win. You go to Polokwane, you get the result. Those games are defining moments, scoring four goals against Wits. It sends a statement. Going to Chippa and win, isn’t easy my friend. The Nedbank Cup is a thorn in the flesh when you’re going for the league and the Champions League. Maybe I should think differently next season because we’ll be playing the Champions League. I don’t know if the Nedbank Cup will help us.” - The Star