Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane believes the Brazilians’ pre-season friendly against Kaizer Chiefs will be the perfect preparation for the 2018-19 campaign.
The Brazilians will take on Amakhosi in the inaugural Shell Helix Ultra Cup scheduled for 21 July after resuming their Caf Champions League campaign against Togo-Port four days before.
Mosimane says he is relishing the chance to take on Chiefs during pre-season as they continue their preparations for the upcoming season.
‘I think the match will give us good momentum for the preparation of the other Champions League games in the group,’ Mosimane told the media.
‘And it also gives you nice preparation for the top eight. We like it and we will see how ready we are after playing this game.
‘Above all, what it is important for Sundowns is to have official pre-season games that you know is a strong game, that players and everybody will be looking out to, unlike when you don’t have nothing.
‘Then you have to motivate players and play in games where there are no supporters – that does not look good.’
The 58-year-old coach says he is expecting a tough showing from the Soweto giants in a match of this standard, despite it only being a pre-season encounter.
‘It is also good for our team to have a tournament with a team of the calibre of Chiefs. They have numbers, they are a big club. Our games against them are never easy, they are forever big games.’
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