Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila’s (TTM) Nedbank Cup campaign ended after a 4-1 loss to Orlando Pirates in the round of 32 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban last Saturday.
Although facing a Betway Premiership side, TTM head coach Lucky Nelukau said he was disappointed with the result. He believed his team could have done better against “The Buccaneers.” According to him, the score could have been 1-1 at the end of regulation time, as his players squandered several opportunities in the first half.
The former Black Leopards player said all four goals for Orlando Pirates resulted from his defenders’ clearing errors. He added that the match was a learning curve for his players, most of whom are competing in the ABC Motsepe League for the first time this season.
Nelukau further stated that, while exiting the competition at the round-of-32 stage was not the plan, his focus now turns to the league campaign, where TTM has struggled despite reaching the Nedbank Cup round of 32.
Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou described TTM as “a hard nut to crack” until he made changes to his starting eleven in the second half. Andre de Jong, Thalente Mbatha, Patrick Maswanganyi and Sipho Mbule scored for Pirates, while TTM’s solitary goal came from Sithembiso Ngobe.