Mosimane: Dolly's departure has changed the way Sundowns play

Mamelodi Sundowns showed their depth on Monday night when Pitso Mosimane opted to rotate his team against Mariveni United in the Nedbank Cup.

Mosimane’s eyes is now firmly focused on defending the Caf Champions League title.

The Tshwane giants will return to continental action against Ugandan side Kampala City Council Authority.

Mosimane has admitted that he will miss Keagan Dolly. The 24-year-old was an influential figure in the Brazilians’ attack, and Mosimane believes he has left a void which they are yet fill.

"I'm not saying we can't play without Keagan Dolly‚" Dolly told The Sowetan.

"We've played many games without him, but we just don't have that balance we used to have on the left."

"I really missed him on the left against Cape Town City because he knows how to play inside and outside."

"We've been playing Themba Zwane who has been cutting inside with his right foot," he said. 

"Dolly's absence has made us change the way we play a bit on the left and we've had to use Percy Tau on the left, but it's been a problem when Percy is facing the goalkeeper because of us using him as a [number] nine or number 10."

"We need to get a left-footed player in the next transfer window to fill that gap."

The former Bafana Bafana tactician also expressed that his troops will need to work harder this season if they are to defend their continental crown. 

"Everybody will prepare better and last year we were a closed book and no one knew us," Mosimane said.

"Everyone was talking about the back door entry and the fact we were the underdogs."

"Everybody knows about us now‚ especially after beating Mazembe and teams are going to prepare better for us."

"You know the team that we're facing on Friday will be parking the bus. We were beaten by a counter-attack game on Friday so we have to score," he continued.

"The only thing we can do now is to rotate the team and make sure they enjoy taking part in the Champions League. When you play in the Champions League‚ you get a chance to play for Bafana Bafana. I always ask the players whether is there something to gain by playing overseas in league football or whether they stay with us and play top club football with us," added Mosimane

"There's a lot to be achieved,” Mosimane concluded.