Long, hard look at lost game

CHIPPA United coach Dan Malesela said his team had learnt some valuable lessons in their 1-0 MTN8 semifinal loss to Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria on Wednesday night.

The Port Elizabeth side once again put on a brave performance, but this time around it was Anthony Laffor’s goal in the second half that broke the deadlock and also demolished Chippa’s dream of their first-ever top flight cup final. The loss marked the Chilli Boys’ first defeat in the five matches they have played so far this season.

Malesela said his young troops would today unpack the match to see what lessons they could take from their encounter against Sundowns.

“I think it’s good that we played Sundowns at this stage, because there are so many lessons to learn,” Malesela said.

“It’s the lessons we learn that is key here and probably if we had played somebody else we wouldn’t have learnt this. “I know that, I know there is an education here. When we unpack this game with the players we will see the lessons we have leant and take them into the next match.”

The Chilli Boys had to play the second leg without their top striker Rhulani Manzini, who has been booked off for six weeks due to injury.

The team were adjusting to different personnel.

Their next league fixture is against Baroka FC at New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday.