AFTER being eliminated by Casric Stars in the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup, MaZulu FC coach, Arthur Zwane, admitted that his team lost a great chance to fight for the title.
It has become history that AmaZulu were not burnt by Casric who lost 2-1 in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals on Saturday, at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban.
AmaZulu became the second team playing in the Betway Premiership to be beaten by Casric playing in the Motsepe Foundation Championship in this playoff competition. Casric defeated Orlando Pirates in the Last 16 with 5-4 on penalties.
The morning exit of Kaizer Chiefs, Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns in this competition, gave Usuthu the hope of going far in this competition. The Zulus last lifted the trophy in 1992, winning the Coca-Cola Cup (Carling Knockout).
“We missed a lot by going out of this competition, but I always say that I prefer playing with a PSL (Premiership) team than playing with a First Division team, especially after we played with two PSL teams that were very difficult to beat in this competition,” said Zwane.
“To face a team that plays in the lower division, which has eliminated Orlando Pirates, my players might think, ‘Hey, we will go through to the semi-finals.’
“That’s where the danger lies in winning the game before you’ve even played it. Because of the experience, most of our players have never been to this stage of the competition, they thought things would be easy. But unfortunately it was a big lesson, which woke them up from the eggs.
“We really wanted to win this game for different reasons, to build a team, to change the way of thinking of the players and to see if they will be able to cope with the situation when difficulties come.
“So it is clear that we are not strong because in truth this is a game that we should not have lost, even in extra time we should not have lost.
“So it remains for us to fight to win most of the remaining league games to finish in a respectable place on the log, which is third place.”
Usuthu, which is in sixth place on the Premiership log, will return to the field for the Premiership by facing Richards Bay FC on Saturday at 6 pm, in Mabhida.