Trott Moloto - Black Leopards have quality
Moloto admits Leopards have quality
Posted: 2010-05-03 09:51
Mamelodi Sundowns caretaker coach Trott Moloto has acknowledged the quality of Black Leopards after watching his side scrape to victory against the First Division club in the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup at Orlando Stadium yesterday.
There was absolutely nothing to suggest this was a contest between teams from different leagues as Leopards gave as much as they got from Sundowns. In fact, Leopards played the better of the two teams.
"I acknowledge that the quality of our opponents today was that of PSL standards. There was no difference between us and it was just experience that carried us through," notes Moloto after seeing a typical Esrom Nyandoro pile drive make the difference with just five minutes remaining.
"I was even thinking that this game would go into extra time and a penalty shoot-out as well, that is how balanced we were.
"Black Leopards truly deserve a pat on the shoulders for giving us a fight and stretching us as much as they did, but then I am glad that we showed the kind of professionalism expected of a team like us by striking when it matters the most. After we scored, it was game over and I should say I am happy that we have progressed to the next round.
"In this kind of game we know that there can only be one winner. Yes, they stretched us but we punished them when it mattered. This kind of game, where we are tested, prepares us for the next round because we have played against a team that just didn't sit back," says Moloto.
With the sieving process having left just eight teams that will go into the draw today, Moloto believes that all the teams remaining in the competition deserve to be treated with respect.
"All the teams that are in the last eight deserve to be here. All of them are a threat and to us it doesn't matter who we play because I realized on Tuesday before we played Leopards that First Division teams are just as difficult as PSL opponents."
Moloto adds that he is hoping to work more on the combination of Lerato Chabangu and Tso Vilakazi upfront.
"From the players that I have available, I have been trying to work things with Ace and Tso. I believe that this is a combination that needs time and hopefully they will click more going forward in this competition."
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