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Diplomatic Pitso take’s PSL’s harsh fixtures decision in his stride

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has reacted diplomatically to a controversial refusal by the Premier Soccer League to postpone two of his side’s domestic fixtures surrounding this month’s Caf Champions League semifinals.

Mosimane said he has instructed his players to take in their stride the perplexing stance on a midweek league game away to Maritzburg United on September 14 and the home second leg of the MTN8 semifinal against Chippa United on September 21.

The matches fall on either side of the first leg of the Champions League (ACL) semi first leg against Zambian club Zesco United in Ndola on September 17‚ and second leg at home on September 24.

“You have to go on with the programme the way it is‚ because you’ve got no other way to do it‚” Mosimane lamented.

“And that’s what I told the guys: ‘We need to prepare differently now. We need to be mentally strong and able to know that we are living at the airports now’.

“We are living in three airports. So we need to make sure that we’re mentally strong to take this programme.

“Because I told the boys that the last thing we want is to come out and say‚ ‘Ja‚ we couldn’t make it because the programme was like this‚ and that’.

“I said‚ ‘I want you to say that we made it against all odds. So let’s go and let’s soldier on. It’s possible‚ it’s doable’.”

The PSL’s decision comes despite having bent over backwards to help Orlando Pirates with up to nine fixture postponements in three years on their path to the 2013 ACL and 2015 Caf Confederation Cup finals.

This is bound to provoke accusations of favouritism given that Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza is also chairman of the PSL.

“I don’t want to talk about who was treated which way. That’s why you [the press] are here. You saw the letters from the PSL to us‚” Mosimane said.

“[Sundowns COO] Sizwe [Ndimande] is there. He can show you the letter.

“It’s not for me to talk – I need to concentrate on the game.”

Mosimane had complained about having midweek fixtures scheduled in the knockout phase before the ACL group stage‚ while Sundowns were also successfully nailing down the PSL title at the end of last season.

“I told the guys‚ ‘Have we had any game postponed for the Champions League? And where are we now? So why should they complain?’

“We’ve made it against all odds. We’ve played the Nedbank Cup‚ Telkom Knockout and the league.

“So let’s follow what we’ve been doing and move on with our lives.

“I saw what happened [with Downs' schedule] last year. And I used that to say‚ ‘Let’s go on and play’. And we won the league and are in the Champions League semifinals.

“So that’s the motto. The rest is for the office‚ for you guys [the press] – not for us‚ not for the players.

“I told the players to pack enough clothes – we’re going to PE‚ have one day back in Johannesburg‚ then we’re off to Maritzburg‚ and the players must have enough clothes for Maritzburg to Ndola‚ direct.

“Let me be honest – do I want to be in this programme? Or do I want not to be in the semifinals of the MTN8 and Champions League. No. I’d rather be where I am than be out.”

The schedule has left Sundowns with a staggering eight fixtures to play in September‚ a month where the schedule has already been compressed by starting with a Fifa international date. - TMG Digital/TMG Sport

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