Marumo Gallants’ stand-in coach Raymond Mdaka has reacted to their CAF Confederation Cup elimination at the hands of African giants TP Mazembe.
The debutants lost 1-0 on aggregate to the five-time CAF Champions League winners after a goalless stalemate at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Captain Lehlohonolo Nonyane’s own goal in Lubumbashi proved to be the difference while they were without head coach Dan Malesela due to him contracting Covid-19 last week.
“We’re really disappointed with the game because it wasn’t a difficult game for us,” Mdaka said after the game.
“We let it [slip] in the first half, we didn’t put much pressure on them, they defended too deep, stayed there and we played in the middle of the park without going forward.
“Second half they came, we tried to push forward but it was too late for us – we couldn’t get it, 0-0 doesn’t favour us, we lost the game on that basis.
“We would not have loved to be knocked out of the competition, honestly speaking. We wanted it, we wanted to represent [South Africa] very well but other than that we have to look forward to challenges in the league now.”
Gallants return to domestic action this week when they face high-flying Sekhukhune United on Wednesday at Ellis Park Stadium (17h00).
