Sekhukhune United head coach Brandon Truter has explained the late substitution for the penalty shootout against TS Galaxy in the Carling Knockout Cup, saying it was always a tactic.
The quarter-final tie finished goalless after 120 minutes at the Peter Mokaba Stadium and Truter brought on Ntokozo Mtshweni for Badra Sangare for the shootout but the latter didn’t save any of the Rockets’ kicks with his side ultimately being knocked out of the cup.
Truter told the media after the match that they had planned to change the keepers based on the last time they headed to penalties in a cup.
“It’s got nothing to do with man-management or anything like that as well,” said Truter.
“I have to take you back to the semi-final against Stellenbosch in the Nedbank Cup, where we also had a semi-final against Stellenbosch and penalty kicks.
“Ntokozo yeah, penalties good reflexes he’s a bit bigger as well. In terms of him and Badra the comparison there is a bit more and once we went there [to penalties] the opportunity and the fate always went at him [Mthsweni].
“Look Galaxy, like I said, they are experienced and they come from a penalty shootout as well. It gave them experience and also gave them some confidence going into it as well but Ntokozo was close to the last one.
“It was always a tactic, it was always pre-planned and the opportunity presented itself and we said ‘why not considering what he did in the semi-final for us last season’.”
Back in May, Sekhukhune did beat Stellies 4-3 on penalties to set up a Nedbank Cup final with Orlando Pirates, which they ultimately lost.
Babina Noko will now turn their attention to the league as they face said Pirates, who were also knocked out of the Carling Knockout Cup, on Tuesday evening in Soweto.
