AmaZulu defender Riaan Hanamub was left chasing by Cameron Carnell of Sekhukhune United (right). Photo: BackpagePix
SLOPPY defending. That is the immediate diagnostic AmaZulu FC co-coach Arthur Zwane pointed out after the two late goals they conceded against Sekhukhune United at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday night cost them the game.
When Elmo Kambindu scored an equaliser on the 78th minute for AmaZulu to make it 2-2, the game looked set to be a share of the spoils, especially with the Premiership’s reputation of being goal-drama shy.
However, from nowhere, Sekhukhune captain Linda Mntambo netted in the 81st and 86th minute to keep all three points in Polokwane in a 4-2 triumph.
As supporters lambasted the goalkeeping of Richard Ofori on X, Zwane was left unimpressed by his defenders.
“It is a worrying factor. For the fact that as a defender, you know already coming here we had been conceding silly goals, but then you come here and concede goals like this,” cried Zwane, reassuring that they are working on the rot.
“Obviously it’s one of the things that we need to work on... Actually, we are working on it.
“(The problem is) sloppy defending. You know I am one person that usually protects players, but we can’t carry on like this.
“We can’t concede goals like this and expect to be a better team. So yes, we’ll take responsibility as the coaches, but the players also need to come to the party.”
The four goals AmaZulu conceded in Polokwane took them to 26 goals against, the second-most in the league after 18 games.
Only Marumo Gallants have conceded more with 30, and Kaizer Chiefs follow in third with 23 after the four they let in against SuperSport United on Tuesday.
Against Sekhukhune, AmaZulu looked set to continue their recent good league run as they were unbeaten in three matches.
“We let ourselves down. We scored first. Even though we started slow, we managed to get a goal,” said Zwane as he continued with the post-mortem.
“From that moment on, we took control of the game, but then all of a sudden, we were (level at) 1-1 and then (we were trailing) 2-1. We were then chasing the game.
“We had them and we could’ve done better, but we let ourselves down.
“In all the goals we conceded, we lost the ball right in the middle of the park. From then on, they played the ball out wide.
“All the goals (scored by Sekhukhune) were similar: (taking the ball) out wide and they’d score.
“We told the guys not to play many balls in the middle because they were waiting for those balls and that moment to try and get the ball out wide quickly.
“We also had enough space there to operate, but then yeah, we let ourselves down. We have to take the blame: the technical team and the players.
“We could have done better. The worst result we should’ve got should have been a draw.
“We still managed to get an equaliser in the second half, but then again, we played the ball right into the middle of the park. Same thing with the fourth goal... they were all the same.“
Ofori has been enjoying the nod between the sticks for a full month now without interruption. He took the jersey from Veli Mothwa, who exactly a month ago let in five goals against Stellenbosch FC.
Zwane feels some of their problems will not be fixed by any coaching style or tactic, and now the eighth-placed AmaZulu are preparing for Saturday’s encounter against 15th-placed Magesi FC (8pm kick-off) at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
“Our player just gave the ball away, no pressure, nothing. Other things are not about coaching, but about the player using his own discretion and making the right decisions. It is one of those things,” said Zwane.
“I’m obviously disappointed – so much, so much disappointed – because this is the one (which I think) we deserved better in.”
Related Topics: