Head coach Dr Xanti Pupuma has heaped praise on goalkeeper Siphamandla Hleza who delivered a Man of the Match performance as Milford dumped Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs, out of the Nedbank Cup.
Despite being dominated in terms of possession and chances created, the KwaZulu-Natal-based weathered the onslaught to see the game end 0-0 after normal and extra time to send the tie to a penalty shootout.
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Chiefs' Edson Castillo sent his spot kick to the stands while Milford were able to put all five past Bruce Bvuma, with Hleza taking the final kick.
The shot-stopper, who also denied Chiefs Ranga Chivaviro from the spot in the first half of extra-time, unsurprisingly walked away with the Man of the Match award.
Speaking i the post-match press conference, Pupuma was full of praise for Hleza and revealed how the goalkeeper played through an injury.
"It’s a pity that you guys only get to see him now. I have known him for years. he is insane," said Pupuma.
"He (Hleza) is a typical modern goalkeeper; he can even play as a striker if he wants to. So, he makes us complete. Believe it or not, he is actually playing injured; he injured his finger on Monday.
"But we rested him for the week because, without him, we are not really the same, we don’t look the same, we don’t play like we want to play, so tonight [Sunday], he just showed everybody else what I already know.
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"I’m glad, I’m happy for him. I want him to enjoy this moment. It’s been coming. He has been through a lot, but he is a boy I know from way back, I’m super happy for him."
The victory hands yet another set back in Amakhosi’s attempts to end a nine-year long trophy drought.
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