“It
is a cup game and anything is possible. It was a job well done to VV (Vladimir
Vermezovic) and wishes him all of the best in the Nedbank Cup. We dominated the entire game. We play proper football they way football
should be played. We created many chances. The chances felt on Surprise Moriri
but he couldn’t convert them. I made two forced substitutions of Khama Billiat and
Mzikayise Mashaba due to injuries but the third substitute introducing Cuthbert
Malajila was a tactical change searching for the equalizing goal which never
came.”
Mosimane
believed that the penalty in the 5 minutes of the game destabilise his game
plan but he was worried with 5 seconds reaction from the referee Robert Smith
to award Pirates a goal, but he gave credit to Meyiwa for brave and heroic performance.
“We
conceded a penalty in the first 5 minutes of the game and we were in the back
foot. We showed respect to the game. We did everything to win the game. I am
happy with the performance but unhappy with the results. This is football and
you’re bound to lose the game. Real Madrid has lost its last game against Borussia
Dortmund and now I have been informed that Barcelona lost its league game
against Granada. We tried to win the
game but its cup game and anything can happen. We play to win but circumstances
prevent us from the winning especial conceding a penalty within 5 minutes of
the game but Meyiwa did well which justify his man of the match accolade.”
Mosimane
admitted that it is a dream of every Premier Soccer League (PSL) coach to win
silverware and now his focus will be on the league.
“It
wasn’t my night (Saturday) but I need fresh legs for the Wednesday’s game
against Mpumalanga Black Aces. The games against Polokwane City, University of
Pretoria, Kaizer Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtic took so much from us but look
at the tenacity and integrity from players, you will never see which tem played
Wednesday’s game and tonight’s (Saturday) game.”
Mosimane
was not pleased with questions around rushing Billiat to play despite carrying
an injury which resulted in an aggravation of his injury and was replaced
within 20 minutes of the game.
“Khama
suffered same injury but when he played against Chiefs and Celtic and we won,
no one asked me about rushing Khama but when we lose the game everyone is
jumping asking me if I rushed him to play with an injury. It is unfair to conclude that I rushed Khama
before he healed properly.”
By Owen Mundalamo
