MDC pain grows for giants
FOR a third season running, the reserve teams of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates fell short of challenging for the MultiChoice Diski Challenge (MDC) title.
The two sides would have hoped for a better campaign after they punched below their weight last season, where Lamontville Golden Arrows clinched the title.
Chiefs and Pirates also failed to make an impression as the University of Pretoria were crowned champions in the inaugural season in 2014-15.
Instead, it was the junior Mamelodi Sundowns who walked the path of their big brothers and snatched the 2016-17 crown in a triumph that was like rubbing salt into the wounds of their Soweto foes.
Amakhosi finished this year’s MDC campaign in fourth spot with 28 points, while the young Buccaneers were eighth on the table, four points behind Chiefs and 10 points adrift of the champions.
In the wake of a frustrating season, Chiefs MDC coach Arthur Zwane bemoaned lack of concentration in crucial games.
“In football you must always be focused. In some of our big matches the boys lost concentration. We [also] have this disease of not converting the chances we create, that is another factor that cost us,” Zwane told Sowetan.
Pirates’s inconsistent season may be blamed on the changing of coaches. In their opening games, Zipho Dlangalala was the man in charge and was later replaced by Benson Mhlongo, who juggled the MDC task with the first-team responsibilities.
However, from a development perspective, Chiefs and Pirates can take solace from the fact they promoted Emmanuel Letlotlo and Menzi Masuku – now with Chippa United – who both came to prominence via the MDC.