Royal AM coach John Maduka was unable to hide his disappointment in the 1-0 loss to DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday evening.
Thwihli Thwahla pushed the record-breaking champions to the edge until a switch off saw Namibian sharp-shooter Peter Shalulile grabbed the all-important effort.
Maduka rues that moment and believes it shouldn't have happened given the time it did as well as how they had fought gallantly to salvage something.
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"I think defensively we did well, I think the game plan was good until that moment you know we lost concentration and we just gave the goal that was not supposed to be there because we knew that it's a team that you have to defend every moment," Maduka told SuperSport TV.
"You can't afford to relax because a team that takes the game to you and they keep on pushing and keep looking for that goal, they keep on putting pressure on you in that half.
"That moment made us lose the game but otherwise the game-plan was good and the boys defended so well.
"We looked ok because we knew that we will suffer when it comes to trying to win the ball, but immediately with the ball we played forward," added the Malawian legend.
With the balance pretty even, Thwihli Thwahla enjoyed moments of penetration moreover on the break and given a better efficiency might have caused damage.
That's what the mentor noted too, but continued to lament the lapses in the critical phases that ultimately cost them maximum points on the day.
"We had a couple of breaks that if we were clinical enough, I think a bit calm we could maybe score a goal. But unfortunately, it didn't happen but the boys worked so hard until that moment we lost concentration," Maduka said.
"It's still a lot, it's still a lot. At this time of the season, players are tired the bodies are tired so you have to make sure that you motivate them so again if you got a thin squad you got to use the players again. It's not easy but we will continue fighting," he further stated.
Thwihli Thwahla have the chance to assert revenge on Tuesday because they will face the Tshwane giants in the return league fixture of the season.
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