Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has congratulated title rival Ernst Middendorp ahead of the final day of the season, while adding that his team can’t be too upset if they miss out on the title because of how they have competed on multiple fronts.
The two giants of South African football come into the final day of the season level on points, but with Chiefs holding a superior goal difference of three.
Downs will thus need a massive win or hope that Chiefs slip up for Mosimane’s team to claim the title.
Speaking in the buildup, Mosimane insisted they will not feel aggrieved should they miss out on Saturday, as his side have competed well in the MTN8, Telkom Knockout, Nedbank Cup and Caf Champions League.
“You can never be unhappy about everything in life. Don’t envy the neighbours, it’s a competition and we’ve been gentlemen, we’ve given the competition for all the years,” Mosimane told the media.
“Even when Wits won the league last time [2016-17], we gave them the competition to win it at the end, it was never easy. Last year we won the last match to win the competition, so we will give Kaizer Chiefs the competition and a very good run [for their money].
“We’ve closed the 13-point gap, and that’s what I’m proud of – to close a 13-point gap with the games in hand, whilst we were in Morocco and Cairo – playing Al Ahly and all that.
“We’ve been competing with a team that didn’t even play top eight – a well rested team that has been playing every weekend, Sunday to Sunday.
“From where we were, fighting for the Telkom [Knockout] Cup, fighting for the Nedbank Cup, fighting for the league, no, you can’t be that ungrateful. We’ve done very well.
“As I said, even when we were losing, we will never give it on a platter, we’ll go for it. We had only one chance to take the lead, and that was for a few hours after Chiefs lost to Wits, that was the only chance we’ve ever had this season, and we did not take it.
“So, it’s fine, we can’t complain. We’ll try and win the Nedbank Cup. If we don’t win the league, we don’t win the league, but [at least] we gave our best.”