PITSO Mosimane is admittedly anxious with two Premiership matches remaining before Mamelodi Sundowns are either crowned champions or finish runners-up next month.But the coach has slated the Premier League scheduling this season, at the same time describing it as a double-edged sword.
League contenders have not only been playing catch-up on points, but matches as well during the season because of a fixture pileup that proved a nightmare for the PSL.
And Mosimane, whose Brazilians are six points clear at the top after 28 games, criticised the league for failing to schedule the title-deciding matches at the same time in the final weeks.
Kaizer Chiefs, who are in second place, have two games in hand on Sundowns and can afford to alter their approach depending on results from their counterparts, Mosimane said.
“I thought by now all the games should be at the same time. Let’s not know what is happening on the other side, let’s be open. Okay, if you look at the positive, we have the points. But we have two matches to go and Chiefs, who we are in the title race with, have four.
“If we lose they can easily say they will play for a draw and it is finished for us. On the contrary to that, I can say I also have an advantage because I’ve got the points. I would have liked to see both sides have an equally balanced amount of stress,” he explained.
It’s all hypothetical, though, as Amakhosi still have to get the points starting with their trip to Bidvest Wits tomorrow night and University of Pretoria on Saturday evening.
Should Chiefs win both those league encounters and Sundowns suffer defeat against crosstown rivals SuperSport United this weekend, then Amakhosi would have caught up on points having played one game fewer.
The PSL authorities will be happy they are only weeks away from bringing down the curtain on a campaign that’s seen them shift one fixture after another partly because of Orlando Pirates’ participation in the Caf Champions League last year and the African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament earlier this year.
Chiefs and SuperSport’s involvement in Caf competitions this season also affected the scheduling. However, apart from these stumbling blocks, Mosimane backed his men to improve on their mental strength to complete the job and claim their first Premiership title since 2007.
“If you want to win it you have to do so and not make excuses. We have a team that can score goals and we need that because goal difference could also determine who becomes the champions. I am a little bit on edge. When I think we could finish it early, then I wait three weeks to play.
“Our neighbours are strong and have got character. They’ve done it for some time, while we have had nothing to show for a long time. My players are anxious and nervous. You see that when they are on the edge of the box and failing to apply the simple basics,” said Mosimane.
Pitso in tizz over
But the coach has slated the Premier League scheduling this season, at the same time describing it as a double-edged sword.
League contenders have not only been playing catch-up on points, but matches as well during the season because of a fixture pileup that proved a nightmare for the PSL.
And Mosimane, whose Brazilians are six points clear at the top after 28 games, criticised the league for failing to schedule the title-deciding matches at the same time in the final weeks.
Kaizer Chiefs, who are in second place, have two games in hand on Sundowns and can afford to alter their approach depending on results from their counterparts, Mosimane said.
“I thought by now all the games should be at the same time. Let’s not know what is happening on the other side, let’s be open. Okay, if you look at the positive, we have the points. But we have two matches to go and Chiefs, who we are in the title race with, have four.
“If we lose they can easily say they will play for a draw and it is finished for us. On the contrary to that, I can say I also have an advantage because I’ve got the points. I would have liked to see both sides have an equally balanced amount of stress,” he explained.
It’s all hypothetical, though, as Amakhosi still have to get the points starting with their trip to Bidvest Wits tomorrow night and University of Pretoria on Saturday evening.
Should Chiefs win both those league encounters and Sundowns suffer defeat against crosstown rivals SuperSport United this weekend, then Amakhosi would have caught up on points having played one game fewer.
The PSL authorities will be happy they are only weeks away from bringing down the curtain on a campaign that’s seen them shift one fixture after another partly because of Orlando Pirates’ participation in the Caf Champions League last year and the African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament earlier this year.
Chiefs and SuperSport’s involvement in Caf competitions this season also affected the scheduling. However, apart from these stumbling blocks, Mosimane backed his men to improve on their mental strength to complete the job and claim their first Premiership title since 2007.
“If you want to win it you have to do so and not make excuses. We have a team that can score goals and we need that because goal difference could also determine who becomes the champions. I am a little bit on edge. When I think we could finish it early, then I wait three weeks to play.
“Our neighbours are strong and have got character. They’ve done it for some time, while we have had nothing to show for a long time. My players are anxious and nervous. You see that when they are on the edge of the box and failing to apply the simple basics,” said Mosimane.
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