Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has issued a heartfelt apology to the Khosi Nation after a humiliating 4-1 defeat to SuperSport United.
For their 66% possession of the ball, Chiefs were dismantled in every way that mattered, as four of the visitors' six shots on target went past Bruce Bvuma, while just one of the home side's five shots at goal went past Ricardo Goss at the opposite end.
On the night, Nabi's troops were haunted by their former employees. Samir Nurkovic opened the scoring just two minutes in, before Christian Saile doubled the lead after Glody Lilepo has levelled matters.
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SuperSport put the game to bed with Jones Lungu and Siphesihle Ndlovu adding one each to the score sheet.
Such was the nature of the loss that it could be considered an act of mercy to both Amakhosi and their fans, who braved the rain on a Tuesday evening at FNB Stadium, when match official Cedrick Muvhali blew the final whistle.
Speaking at the press conference, Nabi made it a point to issue a deserved apology to the fans.
"So, now I want to speak to the fans because I'm not someone who runs away from responsibility. I want to take this time to explain to them the situation and not necessarily to make excuses," Nabi started off.
"It is true that today's result hurts them and I'm also the first person that it hurts as well as them. This is not the game that they should use to judge their team or at least the potential of their team.
"This kind of accident happens in all championships and it can even happen that the score is higher than what we've seen today. It's not possible to be a good team three days earlier and then three days after you are a weak team, it's not possible.
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"As I said, we cannot always give excuses, but I'm very understanding when it comes to my players and today I understood that they gave their best like in the previous games, and they were tired.
"So, that's the reason why I would ask you [the media] to be indulgent with the players as you have done it in the happy times, do it also in the difficult times," added the former AS FAR coach.
Chiefs will have 10 days to prepare for the titanic clash against log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on 1 March.