Pitso: The Nedbank Cup Is An Illusion

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 03:04 pm

While not outright suggesting that the Nedbank Cup is not a priority for Mamelodi Sundowns, coach Pitso Mosimane is adamant that at times the tournament can give clubs false hope and leave them picking up the pieces.

Mosimane was reacting to news that utility player Thapelo Morena had suffered a horrific ankle injury that appears to have ruled him out for the rest of the season during the opening round of their cup tie against SuperSport United.

He insisted that when you play too many games on both the continent and the domestic league, clubs ran the risk of either losing key players or even their status as Absa Premiership outfits in the name of chasing a trophy.

“This is what happens when you overload and you play a lot of games. This is what the Nedbank Cup will give you and why I say teams that are bottom five and six must leave this thing to go because it will spit you out in the semifinal,” Mosimane told reporters.

“As you go along with it, you are going to lose your players like we lost Thapelo and you are going to get injuries and suspension, putting more load and mileage on your team. You can lose the (PSL) franchise chasing this thing because it drags you – it’s an illusion. You think you going to get it and it spits you out when you think you have arrived and about to win it. When you look up you will be in the relegation space and losing (key) players. That’s it, that’s the Nedbank Cup.”