Mosimane aims to solve striker problem in tough month

09 January 2020 - 10:18
By Gomolemo Motshwane
Sphelele Mkhulise is one of  the midfielders   Sundowns rely on for goals. On the right  is   Zitha Macheke  of  Wits.
Image: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images Sphelele Mkhulise is one of the midfielders Sundowns rely on for goals. On the right is Zitha Macheke of Wits.

By the end of the month Mamelodi Sundowns could look even more formidable as they turn up the heat in their pursuit of a new striker.

The club has been linked with Zimbabwean sharpshooter Knowledge Musona, who is out of favour at his club Anderlecht in Belgium.

Downs coach Pitso Mosimane admits he will be bolstering his squad with a quality forward.

"It's important, we need a little bit of experience and one more who can score from nowhere. We are playing strikers who are not strikers," he said.

"Lebo Maboe and Sibusiso Vilakazi are not strikers. I can't put pressure on Keletso [Makgalwa] and hope he can save us. But when you have injuries, what can you do? They are part of the game."

With the contract of Tokelo Rantie having been terminated for ill-discipline and Emiliano Tade having also left the club, the team's strike force has been weakened.

Downs have a tough month ahead when they will juggle domestic and continental obligations. In midweek, the team was held to a goalless draw by Bidvest Wits in Pretoria.

The Tshwane giants next change gears to face Algerian side USM Alger in the CAF Champions League at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (3pm).

Sundowns are on top of Group C with seven points after three games while Wydad Casablanca are second with five points.

Mosimane says a win against USM will all but secure their place in the knockout phase.

"We have to win against the Algerians. If we win you are almost eliminating them. We would be paving the way a little bit for Wydad but we have to look after ourselves and let it be a two-horse race. Why would we want a third party? With two points I think they would be out."