Linda Moreotsene
Linda Moreotsene
SuperSport United's coach Pitso Mosimane is not known for his humility, but on Saturday, he admitted being in awe of Godfrey Sapula.
Mosimane, sitting next to Sundowns' mentor, Gordon Igesund, at the post- match briefing, looked dejected after his team went down 2-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns in a Castle Premiership League clash at Loftus.
He, however, heaped praise on Sundowns, and Sapula in particular, for getting the better of his team.
"We have got to give credit where it's due. If you have a player who is a class above the rest, you, the opposition, face an uphill struggle," Mosimane said.
He stopped short of admitting that his strategy failed him on the night, in addition to the injury sustained by goalkeeper Dennis Onyango in the 20th minute of the first half.
"We wanted to close down Moriri [Surprise], which worked, but we did not bargain on Sapula turning out a Ronaldinho-like performance," he said.
Moriri did manage to evade the close attention of the United defence, to provide the final pass that led to Sapula's beautiful goal in the closing minutes of the first half.
The Brazilians went on to score their second in the 90th minute through Dillon Sheppard, who had come in for Lerato Chabangu, but Sapula's performance again confirmed his status as an in-form player. As is the norm with the Chloorkop outfit however, the man himself refused to hog the praise, but rather attributed his performances so far to mutual trust and reliance endemic within the Downs camp.
"I can go out there and do my part, because it's a team effort at the end of the day.
"We know that United can beat us on their day. We would have been happy with a single point, but this is great," Sapula said.
Mosimane went on to put the blame for the result on his players, who failed to convert their chances.
For instance, early in the second half, Katlego Mphela lost his composure, when after getting behind the entire Downs defence, including goalkeeper Brian Baloyi, he sent a tame shot into the side netting.
Had it been converted, the goal could have cancelled Sapula's strike and brought United back into the game.
Mosimane in awe of Downs gutsy player
Linda Moreotsene
Linda Moreotsene
SuperSport United's coach Pitso Mosimane is not known for his humility, but on Saturday, he admitted being in awe of Godfrey Sapula.
Mosimane, sitting next to Sundowns' mentor, Gordon Igesund, at the post- match briefing, looked dejected after his team went down 2-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns in a Castle Premiership League clash at Loftus.
He, however, heaped praise on Sundowns, and Sapula in particular, for getting the better of his team.
"We have got to give credit where it's due. If you have a player who is a class above the rest, you, the opposition, face an uphill struggle," Mosimane said.
He stopped short of admitting that his strategy failed him on the night, in addition to the injury sustained by goalkeeper Dennis Onyango in the 20th minute of the first half.
"We wanted to close down Moriri [Surprise], which worked, but we did not bargain on Sapula turning out a Ronaldinho-like performance," he said.
Moriri did manage to evade the close attention of the United defence, to provide the final pass that led to Sapula's beautiful goal in the closing minutes of the first half.
The Brazilians went on to score their second in the 90th minute through Dillon Sheppard, who had come in for Lerato Chabangu, but Sapula's performance again confirmed his status as an in-form player. As is the norm with the Chloorkop outfit however, the man himself refused to hog the praise, but rather attributed his performances so far to mutual trust and reliance endemic within the Downs camp.
"I can go out there and do my part, because it's a team effort at the end of the day.
"We know that United can beat us on their day. We would have been happy with a single point, but this is great," Sapula said.
Mosimane went on to put the blame for the result on his players, who failed to convert their chances.
For instance, early in the second half, Katlego Mphela lost his composure, when after getting behind the entire Downs defence, including goalkeeper Brian Baloyi, he sent a tame shot into the side netting.
Had it been converted, the goal could have cancelled Sapula's strike and brought United back into the game.
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