Pitso Mosimane says he is looking forward to the challenge of reviving Mamelodi Sundowns' fortunes after he was appointed Johan Neeskens successor at the weekend.
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The Brazilians sacked the Dutchman on Sunday following their Telkom Knockout final defeat to Bloemfontein Celtic 24 hours earlier, with Mosimane a quick-fire appointment by the Chloorkop outfit.
The former Bafana Bafana boss faces a tough challenge in turning around the club's results, with Downs currently in the relegation zone with more than a third of the season already completed.
The 48-year-old, though, is confident in his own abilities, and speaking to the media for the first time since taking over the reins, he said: "I feel very humbled and privileged.
"I am here to help Sundowns and to stabilise the team. I would also like to see Sundowns in a better position (in the league standings).
"I think we all know that Sundowns deserve to be in a better position and I think the family of Mamelodi Sundowns deserves that respect.
"I need time to turn things in the team around. Rome was not built in one day and if you look at the last five years, it has been a little bit difficult for Downs."
Mosimane added: When you sign a contract at this level, we all know that it is a hot seat.
"We all know that there is pressure and stress. We always find a lot of hurdles in football and, yes, I agree that we may stumble a bit, but I believe that I have experience and knowledge of the local game.
"I believe that I inherited a very good team of individuals, the personnel is good, but as they say in football, numbers don't lie.
"The amount of points Sundowns have won, the amount of goals scored and conceded... don't lie. It reflects the current situation."
Your Comments
normanmalinga
"Interesting and good that Johan Neskins is gone. However, how did Neskins land at Mamelodi Sundowns in the first place?!... Because of very poor decision making from the chief scout Trott Moloto. Trott is charged with the responsability to bring team players and coaches that would add value to the team. Trott brings players and coaches that do not match Sundowns style of play, ie Teko Modise is an under-performer infact he has been fired by Pirates for not performing and what did Trott do, brought him to Sundowns. Sundowns has many players who do not fit team's culture and style of play who brought them Trott. Trott should be fired because he failed to make decisions that seek to promote the Sundowns brand. He just doesn't cut it. The soon Patrice Motsepe dismisses him the better the future of Sundowns as a brand. Motsepe should hire Ted Dimitri as chief scout with Mosimane at helm the future would look a lot more brighter.
One thing for sure Mosimane will get ride of the dead wood lying around Sundowns stable. Yes Sundowns requires a sizeable team but not the kind of players they have right now, under-performers not ready to die for the jersey always moody, requiring some kind of psychological ward to recover at, but ya, that tells the story???!... These players think that Sundowns is a hospital for the depressed. Just fire Trott and his spoiled brets and you have your work cut out for you. This is Sundowns not a mental hospital.
Pitso is a good club coach his club coaching experience is impecable I expect him have an immediate impact in fact Sundowns will win all 3 remaining fixture before the xmas break. Fire Trott Moloto as soon as possible.
Let sanity prevail
Good luck "
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