Posted in News, Team News on Mar 04, 2018.
“We regret this loss,” commented Steve Komphela after the Soweto Derby, “but we don’t point fingers, because you win and you lose together.”
Kaizer Chiefs only lost three times this season, which was the least of all Absa Premiership team, and were on a ten-game unbeaten run, but the 3-1 loss against Orlando Pirates on Saturday afternoon changed that.
“Our unbeaten run came to an end at the wrong time,” Komphela reflected. “We had a good first half though and Pirates’ first goal was unnecessary. Then we equalised from a set-piece, which we know we can do well. Thereafter we dominated and could have killed the game.”
However, this didn’t happen and the Buccaneers scored the 2-1 barely seconds into the second half.
“That was the worst start one can imagine,” the Chiefs coach admitted, “conceding a goal so early in the second half. Thereafter, our pressing was not as tight as it should have been, leaving space behind us.”
Pirates used that space to their advantage, scoring their third goal. “But we continued to look for opportunities to score,” Komphela added. “The game could have finished 3-3 or even the other way around. We played well, but couldn’t win the match.”
Amakhosi’s defensive record had been phenomenal this season, having conceded only 12 goals in 22 encounters before the Pirates clash. Goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune conceded only nine goals in 20 league matches, keeping a clean sheet in an amazing 12 games.
“Each goal came as a result of a mistake,” Komphela said, “but that’s football, it’s a game of mistakes. How otherwise are goals scored?
“However, to lose 3-1 is tough. We have to reflect and see how we can rectify the mistakes made. I don’t think we will sleep until after the regeneration session on Sunday morning. You learn from games like these.”
The Chiefs mentor doesn’t want to rule out the possibility to still being able to challenge for the league title, despite being eight points behind log leaders with seven matches still to play. Amakhosi are now in fifth spot on the league table with 35 points from 23 games.
“Seven times three gives 21, that’s 21 points still to play for,” Komphela reacted to a question about Amakhosi’s chances to still grab the league. “We just have to keep pushing. A win could have taken us to heaven. But this didn’t happen. We have a responsibility to keep performing. We are performers, we are artists. The show must go on.”
Kaizer Chiefs only lost three times this season, which was the least of all Absa Premiership team, and were on a ten-game unbeaten run, but the 3-1 loss against Orlando Pirates on Saturday afternoon changed that.
“Our unbeaten run came to an end at the wrong time,” Komphela reflected. “We had a good first half though and Pirates’ first goal was unnecessary. Then we equalised from a set-piece, which we know we can do well. Thereafter we dominated and could have killed the game.”
However, this didn’t happen and the Buccaneers scored the 2-1 barely seconds into the second half.
“That was the worst start one can imagine,” the Chiefs coach admitted, “conceding a goal so early in the second half. Thereafter, our pressing was not as tight as it should have been, leaving space behind us.”
Pirates used that space to their advantage, scoring their third goal. “But we continued to look for opportunities to score,” Komphela added. “The game could have finished 3-3 or even the other way around. We played well, but couldn’t win the match.”
Amakhosi’s defensive record had been phenomenal this season, having conceded only 12 goals in 22 encounters before the Pirates clash. Goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune conceded only nine goals in 20 league matches, keeping a clean sheet in an amazing 12 games.
“Each goal came as a result of a mistake,” Komphela said, “but that’s football, it’s a game of mistakes. How otherwise are goals scored?
“However, to lose 3-1 is tough. We have to reflect and see how we can rectify the mistakes made. I don’t think we will sleep until after the regeneration session on Sunday morning. You learn from games like these.”
The Chiefs mentor doesn’t want to rule out the possibility to still being able to challenge for the league title, despite being eight points behind log leaders with seven matches still to play. Amakhosi are now in fifth spot on the league table with 35 points from 23 games.
“Seven times three gives 21, that’s 21 points still to play for,” Komphela reacted to a question about Amakhosi’s chances to still grab the league. “We just have to keep pushing. A win could have taken us to heaven. But this didn’t happen. We have a responsibility to keep performing. We are performers, we are artists. The show must go on.”
