Manqoba Mngqithi has opened up about 'one of the strangest things' he has seen in football following Mamelodi Sundowns' unexpected 2-1 defeat to Magesi FC in the Carling Knockout final on Saturday.
Sundowns' wait for their first piece of silverware for the season is set toSun go even longer as they stumbled at the last hurdle to an ambitious Magesi side, thanks to goals from Tshepo Kakora and Delano Abrahams at the Toyota Stadium.
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It was the opposition's Elvis Chipezeze, though, who was the star of the show, keeping out eight of Sundowns' nine shots on target, with only Iqraam Rayners able to squeeze the ball past the Zimbabwean on one occasion.
Unsurprisingly, the experienced net-minder was voted Man of the Match - an accolade he collected for the fourth consecutive match in the cup competition and one that took his overall prize money to a whooping R400 000.
Speaking to media after the match, Mngqithi said his side did everything to try and win the match and had plenty of praise for the man of the moment.
"Credit must be given to Chipezeze again, I think he stood out for them," Mngqithi said.
"No wonder he was Man of the Match; I think he has been very important in this tournament.
"It's probably one of the strangest things I have ever heard in football or in my coaching career where the goalkeeper of the champions is voted Man of the Match in four consecutive matches of the competition up until they win the competition.
"He did very well, credit must be given to him.
"It would be unfair if I said we lost the match because of lack of trying or what, I think the players did everything," he added.
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Meanwhile, Sundowns will not have much time to lick their wounds as their next match comes as early as Tuesday in the form of a CAF Champions League group stage clash against Maniema Union.