Birds’ first loss a bitter pill to swallow for Truter
Coach focuses on rising TTM
Two moments of madness in a space of five minutes led to Swallows’ first Premiership defeat of the season, according to their head coach Brandon Truter.
It took 16 matches for the Birds to lose their first DStv Premiership game and fellow newcomers TS Galaxy have the honour of being the first team to defeat the Sowetobased side in the top-flight division.
Galaxy are enjoying a revival under the guidance of veteran tactician Owen da Gama, who succeeded where many coaches failed. Swallows’ leading goalscorer with 10 goals, Ruzaigh Gamildien, converted a 50th-minute penalty to open the scoring for the visitors.
However, late goals by Lindokuhle Mbatha and Bevan Fransman in the 84th and 87th minutes saw the Birds concede defeat for the first time this season. Truter’s men had never lost a league game since March last year, when they were still in the GladAfrica Championship. That loss was against University of Pretoria.
However, the Birds loss on Tuesday was not to be unexpected after six consecutive draws ahead of the Galaxy match. Moreover, Swallows at the weekend also lost in the Nedbank Cup, via penalties against TTM.
“We were in control for 85 minutes and then they (Galaxy) put us under pressure by putting four to five players upfront. They scored via a deflection and the other one was a set-piece. Two moments of madness in five minutes and we got punished,” said Truter.
Nevertheless, the soft-spoken coach said he is proud of his boys for going 16 matches unbeaten.
“It’s exactly a year since we lost our last league game. It is a wake-up call and we look forward to our next league game against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila; we want to avenge our Nedbank Cup defeat against them. The boys are a bit down, but I will pick them up,” added Truter.
Da Gama said he is proud of his team, now in the top 8.
“We did it against all odds and came back from a goal down to [win]. Nobody can take away our fighting spirit.”