Pitso Mosimane has hit back at critics who insist that Mamelodi Sundowns consistently win trophies because they have a big budget!
‘Jingles’ claimed an unprecedented record of five topflight titles in his seven years at Chloorkop, while the club finally registered what they have labelled ‘La Decima’ – a record tenth championship, which will enable them to add another star below their crest.
This was at the weekend when they pipped Kaizer Chiefs to the Absa Premiership trophy.
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But the coach was quick to address his detractors, who’ve argued that Downs have an edge over their rivals because they have the deep pockets of owner and mining magnate Patrice Motsepe and can “buy any player” they want.
“What talks for me is the trophies. Sometimes when we win people say it’s because we can buy any player we can get,” Mosimane told journalists.
He argued that his predecessors were also backed by the board to recruit quality, but when he arrived Downs had not won a league title since 2007.
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“Didn’t (Johan) Neeskens buy any player that he wants? Didn’t Hristo Stoichkov buy any player he wanted? I am the first one to buy? Didn’t Gordon Igesund buy? Didn’t all these coaches who were here before me at Sundowns buy? They bought more than me in fact – I bought less. I bought Mauricio Affonso and the boy from Polokwane City, Sammy Seabi. And where are they? All injured. This title is a sweet victory because it says I didn’t buy (Robert) Lewandowski to come score goals for me. I got Lebo Maboe and he only scored three goals this year, and I battled with Keletso (Makgalwa) and Ali Meza, you could see I was struggling with the strikers – but I make a plan,” the coach explained.
“Everybody says Sundowns buy any player they want, who did we buy? We bought two, who were injured. The rest have been around. Look at other teams – they bought and imported. Let’s give credit to Mamelodi Sundowns, a team that has won the trophy against all odds – 13 points behind. You need mental strength to do that.”
Story by @superjourno
Check out the list of EIGHT players joining Downs next season
