Top 8 defeat was the making of Maritzburg

Michaelson Gumede

The experience Fadlu Davids (right) and his Maritzburg United side acquired when they reached the semifinals of the MTN8 and lost to eventual champions SuperSport United, has helped the Team of Choice to reach their maiden top-flight cup final after beating Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 in the Nedbank Cup on Sunday.

“I am proud of the players, they took it really hard losing in the semifinal and that was the experience. We had to learn and we went through our eight games without winning after that semifinal because we were never really able to handle the disappointment,” said Davids.

United have set up a Nedbank Cup final against Free State Stars on May 19 in Cape Town, and Davids really rates Luc Eymael’s Ea Lla Koto.

“They are a big club, their position does not lie, they are a great team. We have to approach each game like a big club because any team in the PSL can beat you,” he said.

United and Sundowns will meet again tomorrow at the Harry Gwala Stadium, with Sundowns knowing three points will give them the Absa Premiership title, if Orlando Pirates fail to beat Bidvest Wits on the same evening. Even if Pirates win, a Masandawana victory will be virtually enough, so superior is their goal difference.

Pitso Mosimane, meanwhile, blamed referee Victor Hlungwane for “not managing the game well” on Sunday, as his side’s hopes of a league and cup double went down the drain.

Midfielder Gaston Sirino was shown a second yellow card in the second half, but Mosimane says Deolin Mekoa should have been sent off too for a challenge that forced Anele Ngcongca to be stretchered off with a fractured ankle.