Despite falling short in the MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates, AmaZulu FC head coach Romain Folz has insisted the Buccaneers were not better than them on the day. Ezimnyama Ngenkani lifted the MTN8 trophy after downing the KwaZulu-Natal side 1-0 at the sold-out Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Monnapule Saleng continued with his form, as he scored the only goal of the match that separated the two sides. AmaZulu threw all they could at Jose Riveiro’s troops, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
‘Fohloza’, who was hoping to end Usuthu’s 30-year trophy drought, says the Sea Robbers were lucky to have been given a free-kick that resulted in a goal, but were not in control of the game.
“We were very inactive in the first-half, we were lacking movement off the ball, overall intensity was very low,” Folz told the media in the post-match press conference.
“So, I wouldn’t say that Pirates were that much better than us in the first-half as well, I think they were lucky in some departments. They got a free-kick, and they used it, that was the only difference for me in the first half between the teams.
In the second half, as AmaZulu were seeking the equalising goal, they contained the Buccaneers, forcing them to stay in their own half. The Frenchman says it was just “unfortunate” they couldn’t score.
“Second half was much better from us, our intensity was much better, the ball was released much quicker and our movement of the ball was much better with a lot of chances, unfortunately we couldn’t score.
“But if I look at the game again, I’ll probably say the draw would have been a fair result. But if we would have done better in the first half, especially in the first 30 minutes, we’d probably have different outcome.”
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