Disappointed Benni admits inexperience contributed to cup setback
in Durban on Saturday night.
The match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes of regulation time and 30 minutes of extra-time.
The former Bafana Bafana striker‚ who is in his first job as a professional coach‚ also gave credit to his counterpart and former Bafana teammate Eric Tinkler (47)‚ admitting that his experience played a huge role in the outcome of this match.
It was then left to the heroics of SuperSport goalkeeper Ronwen Williams‚ who saved Lyle Lakay and Judas Moseamedi’s spot kicks‚ for Amatsatsantsa to win their second top eight trophy and a cool R8-million in prize-money.
In the end‚ McCarthy accepted that perhaps he should have brought on Patosi in the second half to help his team’s course in what was his 10th match.
“There [on substitutes] I accept that maybe the inexperience kick-on or maybe it was just the excitement of seeing that it was closer to 90 minutes.
“I thought let’s just close the midfield‚ close the back‚ hoping to hold on to the win. It would have been remarkable if I had won this cup in my first final you know‚” said McCarthy after the game they should have won after leading 1-0 for 80 minutes through Sibusiso Masina’s 23rd minute goal.
Although SuperSport dominated the first 20 minutes‚ it was McCart team which finished the first half stronger after taking the lead with Teko Modise dictating terms in City’s favour in the midfield.
Fearing defeat‚ Tinkler made a number of substitutes of his own‚ bringing Thabo Mnyamane‚ Dove Wome and Sifiso Myeni before the 78 minute.
One them‚ Mnyamane‚ got his team the priceless equaliser in the 80th minute before limping off with a suspected groin injury.
Mnyamane’s injury forced Tinkler’s team to finish the game one man down and on back foot after Thuso Phala‚ Clayton Daniels and Bradley Grobler suffered with cramps.
But it will be McCarthy’s decision of not starting the match with a younger Patosi (24) instead of Modise (34) in the play-making role which will be questioned.