Orlando Pirates interim coach Mandla Ncikazi refused to put the blame on their youngsters following their 1-1 draw with TS Galaxy on Saturday.
The Buccaneers were on course for victory after Bandile Shandu’s opener in the second half, but the Rockets rallied back and snatched a point at the death through Mpho Mvelase.
READ | Pirates denied by Galaxy in final home game
The late goal denied Ncikazi a winning start as interom coach following Jose Riveiro’s departure, and also prevented the club from claiming a fourth straight league win.
“It’s disappointing at the end that we had to play a draw, last minute goal. But I’m thinking we paid the school fees of the continuity, giving the youngsters the opportunity. It’s not their fault, I thought we were in control, I thought we had enough chances to win the match,” Ncikazi told SuperSport TV.
“It is what it is, but I think there are so many lessons learned by way our golden opportunity today. It’s a loss in terms of the points, but I don’t think the experience the youngsters exposed too was a loss to them. It’s just a bitter pill to swallow because you thought it’s that minute of the game, but it is what it is,” he further lamented.
The coach wasn’t too please with the robust tactics the opponents set out and how special attention was particularly placed on starlet Relebohile Mofokeng.
“I thought it’s the plan of the opponents when you have ball-players like you have in our team you can see that the target was Mofokeng that’s the one, but the bad part for me where opponents are not playing the game but they go for robust tactics to try and deal with such a good player Mofokeng.
“But it’s ok we move forward, we have learnt, the young players have learnt. I hope it continues and then we grow our team. I think we’re the youngest team currently in the PSL so we go on again,” Ncikazi noted.
