At a SuperSport United media open day on Thursday last week Stuart Baxter waxed lyrically about the mutual respect that he and Mamelodi Sundowns counterpart Pitso Mosimane enjoy for each other.
Five days later – following Sunday’s debacle at Loftus Versfeld where Mosimane demanded to have SuperSport’s dugout for his bench‚ and the two teams farcically ended up warming up on the same side of the pitch – Baxter says he has lost that respect.
The PSL have referred the incident to their prosecutor‚ and say they are considering charging Mosimane for bringing the league into disrepute.
It would be sad if it put a dampener on the healthy rivalry between the two coaches‚ who have shared the last four PSL titles (Baxter with two for Kaizer Chiefs‚ and Mosimane two for Downs).
Here are Baxter’s two sets of quotes (we find them quite revealing):
SuperSport United media open day‚ Megawatt Park‚ Sunninghill‚ Thursday‚ August 25:
“There’s a natural rivalry between two professionals. We’ve been at each other’s throat over the last three‚ four years‚ but I think it’s a rivalry based on respect. It’s not rivalry based on we don’t like each other‚ or I don’t like the way he plays football.
“It’s a rivalry where I respect what he’s done at Sundowns‚ he’s taken over a situation where club president Patrice [Motsepe] has invested lots of money and was virtually playing a lottery buying and selling players.
“And Pitso has taken the club and given it stability and some credibility‚ organisation‚ those things they didn’t have before.
“I’m sure Pitso also respects what I’ve done in the game.”
SuperSport United player announcement of Tefu Madshamaite signings‚ SuperSport studios‚ Randburg‚ Wednesday‚ August 30:
“Our warm-up was totally compromised‚ because they were running in and out of our side of the pitch.
“Did that affect the result? Probably not. But in terms of preparation and of the spectacle it was a shambles.
“And then the comments that Pitso has made – either the insinuation that we [SuperSport] did wrong‚ or the shouting and swearing in the game – I think it diminishes the respect that people have for him.
“I think it’s not fitting of the coach of the top team at the moment‚ Sundowns. I think [Downs owner] Patrice [Motsepe] has invested a lot of money in the club to improve its journey and standing.
“And Pitso has been on that journey and part of that. But the way he behaved was not fitting‚ and I’m sure a lot of his former friends at SuperSport will have lost respect for him.
“And I have to say he’s gone down in my estimations. ” - TMG Digital
What a difference five days can make – Pitso goes from Baxter’s hero to his zero
At a SuperSport United media open day on Thursday last week Stuart Baxter waxed lyrically about the mutual respect that he and Mamelodi Sundowns counterpart Pitso Mosimane enjoy for each other.
Five days later – following Sunday’s debacle at Loftus Versfeld where Mosimane demanded to have SuperSport’s dugout for his bench‚ and the two teams farcically ended up warming up on the same side of the pitch – Baxter says he has lost that respect.
The PSL have referred the incident to their prosecutor‚ and say they are considering charging Mosimane for bringing the league into disrepute.
It would be sad if it put a dampener on the healthy rivalry between the two coaches‚ who have shared the last four PSL titles (Baxter with two for Kaizer Chiefs‚ and Mosimane two for Downs).
Here are Baxter’s two sets of quotes (we find them quite revealing):
SuperSport United media open day‚ Megawatt Park‚ Sunninghill‚ Thursday‚ August 25:
“There’s a natural rivalry between two professionals. We’ve been at each other’s throat over the last three‚ four years‚ but I think it’s a rivalry based on respect. It’s not rivalry based on we don’t like each other‚ or I don’t like the way he plays football.
“It’s a rivalry where I respect what he’s done at Sundowns‚ he’s taken over a situation where club president Patrice [Motsepe] has invested lots of money and was virtually playing a lottery buying and selling players.
“And Pitso has taken the club and given it stability and some credibility‚ organisation‚ those things they didn’t have before.
“I’m sure Pitso also respects what I’ve done in the game.”
SuperSport United player announcement of Tefu Madshamaite signings‚ SuperSport studios‚ Randburg‚ Wednesday‚ August 30:
“Our warm-up was totally compromised‚ because they were running in and out of our side of the pitch.
“Did that affect the result? Probably not. But in terms of preparation and of the spectacle it was a shambles.
“And then the comments that Pitso has made – either the insinuation that we [SuperSport] did wrong‚ or the shouting and swearing in the game – I think it diminishes the respect that people have for him.
“I think it’s not fitting of the coach of the top team at the moment‚ Sundowns. I think [Downs owner] Patrice [Motsepe] has invested a lot of money in the club to improve its journey and standing.
“And Pitso has been on that journey and part of that. But the way he behaved was not fitting‚ and I’m sure a lot of his former friends at SuperSport will have lost respect for him.
“And I have to say he’s gone down in my estimations. ” - TMG Digital
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