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Ricky Zililo and Lovemore Zigara
SOUTH African Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns are using their Zimbabwean tour not only to prepare for their title defence but also to scout for talent.
Mamelodi Sundowns arrived in the country on Friday and played a closed door friendly match with Highlanders who they narrowly beat 1-0.The Bosso performance impressed the Tshwane-based club’s coach Pitso Mosimane whose side will be returning to continental football next year with the hope of impressing in the Caf Champions League.
“Highlanders are doing well and we are looking forward to the challenge from Dynamos and Caps United. Last time when we came to Zimbabwe the three giants played an average game because they were just coming from the off-season and now the tides have shifted as they are halfway through the league programme.
“In our last visit the three teams gave us something to believe in even though they were coming from off-season and for that reason I believe this tour will add value to our title defence preparations as well as Caf Champions League. Who knows, we might face one of the three clubs in next year’s Caf Champions League,” Mosimane said.
The Brazilians, as Mamelodi Sundowns are affectionately known, will be joined by Kaizer Chiefs for the Caf Champions League after the continental football body gave South Africa two slots for each competition following Orlando Pirates’ fine run last year that saw them lose in the final.
Besides retaining the Premiership cup, Mosimane is determined to leaving a lasting mark in continental football competition.
“Last time when we were here I declared that we are going to win the South African league and some people thought I was high on something. Right now I am back in Zimbabwe and the first thing I want is to lead the club to a successful title defence as well as emulate and even out-do what Orlando Pirates did in their last campaign.
“Winning the Caf Champions League is possible because we have a good team, a fantastic technical staff and we have the right mentality to win,” said Mosimane.
He brought along a largely full strength squad for the tour but with notable absentees of Zimbabwean international Khama Billiat who is on a plaster from an injury sustained last season, Lebogang “Cheese-boy” Mokoena who underwent a shoulder operation and Surprise Moriri who hurt his foot.
Mamelodi Sundowns are also without Nigerian Ejike Uzoenyi as well as Rashid Sumaila of Ghana who are due to report for training next week after spending most of the off-season with their national teams participating at the Fifa World Cup.
Mosimane on Saturday was part of the VIPs who watched the Zvishavane derby pitting FC Platinum against Shabanie Mine which ended 2-1 in favour of the platinum miners.
Mosimane said there are prospects of signing Zimbabwean players ahead of the new season.
“We are still building a team even though we won the championship. Some of the things came too early but you cannot reject good things when they come. We are on a scouting mission, we always scout and come to Zimbabwe to buy players. Recently, we bought a player who we loaned to Highlanders and we have about four Zimbabweans at Sundowns,” he said.
Kudakwashe Mahachi who spent half of the year on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns at Highlanders is on a trial stint in France with AS Monaco and is the latest Zimbabwean acquisition at the Tshwane-based side.
Long-serving Esrom Nyandoro, winger Billiat and striker Cuthbert Malajila are some of the players who are at Chloorkop.
About eight players caught the former Bafana Bafana mentor’s eye during the Zvishavane derby. Mosimane was impressed by the Shabanie Mine’s trio of former Dynamos forward Allen Tavarwisa, striker Ashley Mukwenya and Godknows Murwira.
For the platinum miners, it was Raymond Sibanda, Obrey Chirwa, Aaron Katebe, James Marufu and captain Thabani Kamusoko who caught Mosimane’s eye.
Yesterday Mosimane and his team watched the Harare derby between Dynamos and Caps United at the National Sports Stadium.
The Absa Premiership champions will take on Caps United on Tuesday, Dynamos on Wednesday and fly out soon after the DeMbare encounter.
Online Reporter