Sundowns’ coach Moriri “content” despite losing GDL top spot

When a team that carries standards as high as those of the Pretoria-based Mamelodi Sundowns suddenly and swiftly slips down the Gauteng Development League (GDL) log standings, concerns arise within the footballing fraternity.

There are whispers in the stands and questions asked. Could it be complacency that has seen them dominate the first half of the league only to slip at the business end of the competition?

However, those with an eye for detail would have noticed that Mamelodi Sundowns’ coach, Surprise Moriri, has been fielding a team that looks entirely different to the one that took to the field at the beginning of the year.

In an exclusive interview with SuperSport Schools Plus, Moriri opened up about his team and the reason behind the new personnel in the starting lineup.

“If you look at the team from the beginning of the season until the June-to-July period, it was doing very well. I’m not necessarily talking in terms of the position on the log but in terms of the product on the field,” Moriri said.

“As a coach, that’s what you want to see players do. The way that we defended was superb, conceding few goals and scoring a lot of goals. All of that contributed to us being consistent, and I must say that the boys have been working very hard.

“We have about eight or 10 players who are training with the iDiski Challenge team as they try to see whether they can come up with a team that can represent us in the iDiski Challenge. That’s why you see now in our GDL team we have only a few remaining out-and-out u19 players, with a blend of u17 players making up the team,” he explained.

Despite seeing his side slip to third in the table, Moriri emphasised that he is still content with the efforts of his players.

The coach insisted that his main job as a development coach is to produce players for the senior teams and that’s where his focus remains.

“As a development coach, you always want to see your players going to the next level. When I see most of our u19 players going into the iDiski team since the main iDiski players have been called up to the senior team, this is something that we want to see,” he said.

“For me, I’m content with how things are going so far. As a coach, if you start moaning about not having players for the GDL because players are at iDiski then you are the wrong path because that would be about you as a coach wanting to win the GDL.

“You cannot prioritise the GDL at the expense of these young players. These players want to go to the next level and that’s what we want to help them achieve,” he added.

This week, Moriri and his troops will be involved in one of the country’s fiercest rivalries, the Tshwane Derby, when they take on SuperSport United at Eskom Megawatt Park on Sunday.

Moriri says ‘Downs are not underestimating SuperSport United despite having beaten them in the first round of fixtures.

“We don’t take them lightly because it’s going to be a very interesting game. Remember, in the first leg we beat them at home, so they will also be looking to get revenge,” he said.

“We need to make sure that we assemble a team that will compete. It’s a derby and there’s bragging rights on the line,” he concluded.

FIXTURES

Saturday, 24 August

East Rand Athletic Club vs Remember Elite Sports Academy (Tsakane Stadium)
Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School vs Randburg AFC (RSMSS)
School of Excellence vs Panorama FC (Elandsfontein)
Sevens Academy vs NWU Vaal (Woodlands International College)
TS Galaxy vs Kathorus Hyper (Marks Park)
TUKS vs Kaizer Chiefs (TUKS Sports Fields)
Wits Junior vs Jomo Cosmos (Marks Park)
Highlands Park vs Joburg City (Balfour Park)

Sunday, 25 August

SuperSport United vs Mamelodi Sundowns (Eskom Megawatt Park)