Kerr hails the TTM fairytale
NEDBANK CUP: VALIANT DEFENDING WAS THE CLINCHER
Dylan Kerr praised his side’s valiant defending as Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) held onto a 1-0 lead to beat Chippa United on Saturday at the Free State Stadium, and lift the Nedbank Cup for the first time.
TTM only came into the DStv Premiership this season, purchasing the status of Bidvest Wits, and their initial efforts were farcical, then-owner Masala Mulaudzi apparently unable to afford his wage bill, and eventually selling the club to Abram Sello.
Sello, however, has stablilised the team, and the hiring of Kerr has also proved a masterstroke, with Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo’s 27th minute goal, a speculative effort that took a deflection, flew past Chippa’s keeper Ismail Watenga, enough to give TTM the trophy.
“We made mistakes in the second half, but we defended like heroes,” said Kerr on SuperSport TV after the match.
“I have to give credit to my players and all my staff, to Mpho Maleka and DVD (David Mathebula). They have worked hard and it is just reward. I think the chairman might phone me and say congratulations!
“It is a great achievement for TTM after the season they have had...today we thoroughly deserved it.”
TTM didn’t have much time to celebrate the victory that also takes them into the Caf Confederation Cup next season, as on Wednesday they already have another game, a DStv Premiership meeting with SuperSport United, and a vital match in the side’s battle to avoid relegation.
“We have got to enjoy tonight, but not too much, we have a tricky game against SuperSport and we are still not out of danger,” added Kerr.
Vladislav Heric, whose Chippa side are also in relegation trouble, said his side paid for not being at the races in the first 30 minutes.
“We tried to approach the game like any other, without pressure, but in the first half-an-hour we didn’t exist, we were enchanted. In the second half we were more organised, more offensive, but we couldn’t penetrate.
“One or two chances was not enough for us to come back and recover the game. We now have to focus on relegation and trying to get ourselves safe,” the Chippa coach told