Malesela rues draw with Downs
CHIPPA United coach Dan “Dance” Malesela believes his team missed the trick by not coming away with full points from their Absa Premiership fixture against African champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Tuesday night.
It would be fair to assume that sharing the spoils with the in-form defending champions in Mdantsane would be a good result for Malesela, but the coach was having none of that.
“We could have collected all the three points,” he insisted.
“We could have chosen the right things to do, even the last ball, if it was played direct [it would have been a goal] because we should know our strengths.
“We know Zephaniah [Mbokoma] has got skills, so why try play him in the space.
“But these things happen and you can’t complain.
“Some of these boys are learning and they are improving with time. That is what pleases me the most.”
Asked if the departure of defenders James Okwuosa and Marc van Heerden to Orlando Pirates had an impact on the team, Malesela said the replacements have done a good job so far.
“Them leaving was a challenge and obviously we had some uncertainty.
“We had two new central defenders against Sundowns who did very well under the circumstances.”
Malesela said the atmosphere at Sisa Dukashe Stadium was “something beautiful” that he had not witnessed in years.
However, he also said that had the playing surface been in a better condition, both teams would have played more attractive soccer.
Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane echoed Malesela’s sentiments.
“There’s nothing wrong with coming to the township because we need to bring football to our people, but the disadvantage is that the infrastructure sometimes lets us down‚” said Mosimane.
The 1-all draw has seen the Port Elizabeth-based team break into the top half of the PSL log.