Yesterday, May 11, marked one year since Mamelodi Sundowns were crowned Absa Premiership champions and Pitso Mosimane explained how Phakamani Mahlambi became the hero.
The race for the 2018/19 league title went straight down to the wire last year, with both Sundowns and Orlando Pirates heading into the final matchday with a chance to lift the trophy.
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However, after a single goal from Mahlambi, a 1-0 win over Free State Stars on the day was enough to confirm Sundowns as back-to-back champions after winning the league by two points.
"I set my team up to get the W. We knew that our destiny was in our hands. Pirates were playing Polokwane City at home and we were on the road against Free State Stars," Mosimane said on Sundowns' official website.
"What helped us was that Stars were chasing the game as well, they needed the win to avoid relegation. I needed to keep the boys focused – we couldn't be hungry and just chase the win, because we would get punished.
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"Gaston was making some dangerous runs, he was creating problems for the Stars backline. He is a guy that can turn the game around. We needed to accept that football is an unpredictable game.
"Once Gaston goes down, I discussed our options with my technical team and I felt Phaka was our best option. We threw Phaka on and we needed to trust and believe in him. Obviously he scored and repaid the belief we had in him," Mosimane added.
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