Dazzle with the Stars
Amateurs shine in 2-1 loss to seasoned PSL side
The Nedbank Ke Yona Team can hold their heads high after an impressive offensive performance when they took on defending Nedbank Cup champions Free State Stars in Tembisa on Sunday.
Despite the disappointment of the 2-1 loss etched on their faces at the final whistle, the team should be extremely happy with their performance, head coach Khabo Zondo said.
Their enterprising play and confidence on the ball had the Absa Premiership side sweating throughout the match.
The team had given a good account of themselves, goalkeeper Camagu Kanana, of Dimbaza, said.
“We fought hard and did our best, but it was a lapse in concentration at the end that cost us,” he said.
“We will definitely learn from this going forward.”
Adding to those sentiments, was attacking midfielder Axolile Kapo, from Port Elizabeth, who said the opportunity they got could only lead to bigger things in the future.
“There were chances for us, we just never made them count,” he said.
“I think what helped us was the fact that we did not back down from the challenge and the fans could see how hard we were trying.
“So I think we were a bit disappointed that we could not be the first set of graduates to beat a PSL team, but it’s over now and we have to look forward [to the PSL draft].
“We wanted to win today [Sunday] and make history but it didn’t happen. The coaches told us we are the first team in the history of the challenge to play such attacking football and that motivated us to give it our all.”
A disappointed Buyelekhaya Velelwandle from Mthatha said: “Working with them [Shakes Mashaba and Zondo] has really helped us grow both on and off the field.”
Zondo said despite some nerves, the team had played with a lot of maturity against the experienced Stars outfit.
“It was a great game of football. I believe our youngsters did their best playing against seasoned guys like that,” he said.
“With the chances we got, we could have snatched it.”
Zondo, in congratulating Stars, said that the Ke Yona team showed great mettle to stand toe-to-toe with the “masters of the long ball situation”.
“Our tactical analysis of Stars was spot on. They are the masters of the long ball,” he said.
“They don’t play too much through the middle.
“It’s all about the long ball from the back and they were a bit vulnerable defensively.
“Our boys were a bit nervous coming into the match, but they played really well.”
When asked about the performance of the Eastern Cape players specifically, Zondo would not place too much emphasis on individuals but rather the team as a whole.
“Our criteria talks to us about South Africans,” he said.
“I know we had a lot of players from EC, but wherever they came from they did their best.”