Mdaka: CAFCC a good learning experience for Gallants

by Staff Reporter

Thursday May 18, 2023. 11:34

Marumo Gallants assistant coach Raymond Mdaka has hailed their run to the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals as a “job well done” after bowing out to Young Africans on Wednesday.

Bahlabane Ba Ntwa made history when they reached the knockout stages of the competition for the first time, having clinched top stop in Group A ahead of USM Alger.

Dylan Kerr’s side then set up a date with Yanga in the last four by beating Pyramids of Egypt 2-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals but found themselves with work to do against the newly-crowned Tanzanian Premier League after suffering a 2-0 defeat in the first leg at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Their task became more difficult at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium when Fiston Mayele opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time and Kennedy Musonda doubled the visitors’ lead on 62 minutes to seal Gallants’ fate, although Ranga Chivaviro did manage to halve the deficit in stoppage time.

Mdaka praised his players for making it as far as they did given their domestic situation and believes the experience will stand them in good stead going forward.

“I appreciate and applaud the players looking at the journey from where we have come from especially noting that we have to juggle with the league and our position as well,” he said.

“It is a job well done and a good experience for the players, the technical bench and the entire team. There are plenty of lessons to be picked and this tournament has given our players a good experience to be more competent and grow mentally. Should we find ourselves in the same competition next time, the players will understand most of the situations.

“Going into a game 2-0 down needs character of some kind. I congratulate Yanga for a job well done because they know how to beat us especially with their speed in offense. Our boys really showed up and we had the chances in the first half which we thought we should have made count. When you miss such, it makes the match difficult.”