Folz: Pirates weren't better than us

by Staff Reporter

Sunday Nov 06, 2022. 13:56

AmaZulu head coach Romain Folz has expressed his annoyance at losing the MTN 8 final to a set-piece, claiming that Orlando Pirates weren’t the better team on the day.

The Buccaneers were crowned champions for the 11th time in the competition’s history after Monnapule Saleng struck in the 25th minute to secure a 1-0 victory at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

Saleng’s free-kick from an acute angle on the right somehow found its way past Veli Mothwa, who will be disappointed to have been beaten in such a fashion.

Folz felt that Usuthu were more than a match for Pirates in Durban and believes the opposition might not have won if the free-kick hadn’t gone in.

“The one thing that annoyed me the most today was the fact that we lost through a set-piece because if they don’t score that set-piece I don’t think they score against us,” the 32-year-old said after the match.

“If we were outplayed and we conceded three goals and they played better than us then I wouldn’t have that much of a problem. I’m not taking anything away from them but honestly, I don’t think they were better than us.”

Folz conceded that some of his players didn’t perform at the required level but insists they will learn from the experience to improve going forward.

“Obviously after the match it’s very easy to point fingers at specific people but for me what’s important is that we understand why this is the case and how we fix it moving forward,” he added.

“Yes it’s sour that some of the players weren’t at the level you expect and they know they can do better but being in the final doesn’t mean it’s your last final ever.”