How Mosimane dribbled Kaizer Chiefs to 2019/20 Premier Soccer League glory

Kaizer Chiefs lost a huge 13-point gap at the top of the Premier Soccer League table in the 2019/20 season, with Mamelodi Sundowns getting the crown on the final day. 

The Glamour Boys, under coach Ernst Middendorp, looked set to win the league before collapsing and losing the grip and title to Masandawana. In the final game of the campaign, against Baroka, Amakhosi were leading by a solitary goal, but conceded late, and the spoils were shared, which saw them lose the title.

Middendorp was sacked as a result, but according to the former club's attacker Bernard Parker, it was Pitso Mosimane's mind games that prevailed.

‘Social media was also pushing the mind games'

“We went into the bio-bubble, and there were a lot of mind games played by coach Pitso Mosimane. when we went into the bubble, it was now the second round of the season, and we were leading the log by 11 points. It was a huge gap. We tried to retaliate against those mind games,” Parker told Smash Sports.

“At that time, it was during COVID-19, and everything was on social media. So, social media was also pushing the mind games. On top of it, coach Pitso signed George Maluleka on a pre-contract, trying to destabilise our camp. 

“There were rumours, and George approached the club and told them the truth, what happened. Coach [Ernst] Middendorp then called us senior players and asked, ‘What do you guys think, what is your opinion about George?’

“We all gave our opinions. He was a key member of our team, one of the regular players. We all gave our opinions, and coach Middendorp finally made his decision that he still wanted to keep George in the team,” he added.

Mosimane wanted to benefit

“But I believe once your mind is set elsewhere, you no longer perform well. No matter how hard you try, we are all human, and you will no longer be at your best. The coach would sometimes play him and sometimes not. It actually affected our rhythm and momentum,” Parker continued.

“Coach Pitso just kept on going. He milked it, he kept on saying, ‘I also want to benefit, why are Chiefs benefitting. Why Chiefs this, why Chiefs that.’ He knew what he was doing at that time, and it worked for him.

“Football is not only about the physical part of playing, but also the mental part. Pitso found the gap in terms of using the mental part more, and he ended up winning,” he concluded.