Limpopo coach Strada Dhlamini was left disappointed by his team’s lacklustre defending in their 2-0 defeat to Kovsies in Bloemfontein.
The team from the far north conceded two goals in the second half to slump to their first-ever Varsity Football defeat in only their second game, after an encouraging opening round draw to UCT in Cape Town last week.
“It was a disappointing match through and through,” said Strada Dhlamini.
He lamented the first goal scored by Kovsies midfielder Lehlohonolo Mokoena as their biggest downfall as it happened in the first minute after the half-time interval.
“The way that goal was scored, it takes a lot out of you and it happened at the wrong time,” said Dhlamini.
He said after that goal was scored his entire team were on the back-foot, playing in their half of the field. He said that they were woeful in defence and they would have to work on that at training.
He added that the mood amongst the players at the moment is not a pretty sight, but the players know that they must pull their weight and pull together. He said that it cannot be an individual thing.
“In this tournament you are in the lion’s den, so you have to hustle and keep and work together all the time,” he explained.
Dhlamini hopes that in their next outing in the platinum province against third-placed North West University, the mood would have improved and the players refocused so they can bring the much-needed three points to the Limpopo province.
Although they lost they played a clean game with only one caution, a yellow card against captain Pholosi Baphela.
Dhlamini said that they will assess injuries at training this week, and will focus on the team’s defence and lifting the spirits of the players as they look to move up from their current seventh position on the standings.
By Noko Pela
