The head coach of Venda Football Academy FC (VFA), Mr Joel "The Prophet" Masutha, has good reason to rejoice, despite the fact that his team will not take part in the quarter-final stage of the Nedbank Cup Competition. VFA were beaten 2-1 in their evenly contested game played at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg last Saturday evening.
Masutha said that his players had fought like real soldiers throughout the game, showing Pirates no respect. This is despite his team's campaigning in the lower division.
Asked why his team had been playing defensive football in the first 15 minutes of the game, Masutha said that this had formed part of their game plan to ensure that they did not concede any early goals.
He said that Pirates had been scoring early goals in their last five games and that they had not wanted to fall into the same trap. His game plan clearly worked for them as Pirates could only manage to break their wall in the 24th minute. Pirates' goal was also scored against the run of play as VFA were knocking on their door time after time at that stage.
The former Black Leopards mentor said that he was impressed by his team's spirit of commitment as the players had not lost hope after they had conceded the first goal. He said that they would take the same spirit to their league campaign.
Asked whether he regarded the defeat as a blessing in disguise, so that they could concentrate on their league campaign, Masutha said that although lifting the Nedbank Cup would be a great achievement to the team, his primary focus now was to ensure that VFA completed their league programme in a respectable position on the log standings.
VFA were playing against JDR Stars in their league match at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. (The result of the match was not available at the time of our going to press). Their next fixture will be against Polokwane City at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Edmore Chirambadara scored the solitary goal for VFA against Pirates, while the Buccaneers' goals came via Kermit Erasmus and Thembinkosi Lorch.