SuperSport United's coach Kaitano Tembo believes they should have won their MultiChoice Diski Challenge third-place playoff but says he's impressed with their overall showing in the tournament.
The Pretoria side lost 2-1 against Mpumalanga Black Aces at the Nike Football Training Centre in Pimville, Soweto on Saturday to finish fourth in the competition.
"I think first half we didn’t really play well. In the second half we came back very strong. With a little bit of luck we could have won the game, with the amount of chances we created. Even when we played with 10 men, we still dominated position, created lots of opportunities," he told supersport.com.
Aces opened the scoring through Zanele Mbiyozo in the 31st minute but SuperSport equalised five minutes later through Kwanele Zulu, who scored for the second time in two matches. Darren Lurie netted the winner for AmaZayoni in the 44th minute.
"We had two goals which were disallowed for offside, with one of them we asked why repeatedly, the other we agree it was offside. But that's what happens if you're not lucky on the day, some decisions can't go your way. But you know that's football.
"But I was happy with the performance of the boys, especially in the second half," he said.
The coach mentioned that their aim was to play all the matches when they started in the tournament.
"I think when this tournament started the target was to play all the games. We wanted to go to the knockout stage, of which we managed to do. When we were there, we went with confidence and we started believing as well that we can still go all the way," Tembo revealed.
"But unfortunately there were some things as well, like the availability of players. Because some went to play in the national under-17 team and others were also needed to the first team. So we didn’t have enough depth to be able to compete all the way.
"But I think the young players which we managed to introduce at that stage, gave a good account of themselves. And the club can still look at it and be proud we know who's coming through the development, which is really key for us."
BIG SUCCESS
Tembo believes the Diski Challenge was a success for them in terms of the objectives they had and the development of the players.
"I think it was a big success because we've always looked to bridge the gap between PSL and academy. And we've managed to do that. Because if you look at most of our youngsters, they also got an opportunity to get game time at that level whereby you play against some PSL players.
"And the tournament was very competitive. It was like playing some PSL games, although we were not there yet. But I think it gives us direction as well as gauging our players and seeing where they are in terms of the PSL," he continued.
"Because before, we thought this youngster is ready to play in the PSL. When he gets there he finds that things are totally different and they cannot get to the next level because the level is no longer the same and they can't handle the pressure.
"So in this tournament it bridges, if you look at the preparations and travelling it's the same as the PSL. So they can get a peak of what could happen to them, if they can be successful and manage to play at the PSL level.
"On that note I think we managed to get what we wanted in the tournament."
GETTING GAME TIME
The club's former defender and captain says participating in the tournament helped a number of the fringe first team players to get recognition.
"And coming to first team players, if you look when we started, we had players like Andile Fikizolo who were not getting game time in the first team. Thabani Mthembu, Prince Nxumalo too.
"By January, because of their performances in the reserve league, they managed to get to play for NFD teams, they went on loan. So they are also getting game time where they are."
He also noted how getting game time has boosted the chances of the players to break into the senior side.
"And some PSL players like Morne Nel, Ryan Chapman they started getting a look in at the first team because of the performances they had at MDC level."
The Diski Challenge also opened the door to a number of experienced players to get game time and regain their match fitness. Tembo was impressed by the professional approach they showed.
"And it was also good that our PSL players came with a right mentality, right attitude. Knowing that, 'you know what - I'm not in the reserve to stay there but to work my way back into the first team', which most of them did.
"So I think it was a success for us and we can always look to improve in the next season, that's all that we want. We finished fourth but next season we need to do better and get into the final as well," he emphasised.
NEVER LOOK BACK
The Zimbabwean-born legend of the club thinks there's a lot that the youngsters learnt and take forward through their involvement in the competition.
"I think if you look at it, these games were tactical and it's always important for them to have that tactical awareness and to be able to adapt in different conditions like I mentioned, the travelling and playing in different fields. That's what happens in the PSL.
"And as well as the quality of the football which was displayed. For all the teams that played there, it was very good," he mentioned.
"And at the same time, physically as well. They are young, but they managed to cope playing against more established PSL players. They can never look back after this now, they still want to continue playing.
"I think they were really excited to continue because they were in a right frame of mind. I think it helped a lot," Tembo concluded.
No comments:
Post a Comment
drop your comment about your football hero, their fashion style, like who dresses most, who drink most ,who hang out most like going to club , who plays with woman most and so on