Assistant coach Sekuhuhune, Paulus Mashe, believes that Babina Noko's team put in maximum effort during the second semi-final match against Orlando Pirates, despite finishing the campaign with a loss.
Sekuhuhune lost 3-0 at the Orlando Amstel Arena stadium on Saturday, leading to an overall 4-0 defeat, as Pirates also won the first match in Polokwane. This loss was part of a difficult run of three defeats against Buccaneers over eight days, including a 2-0 loss in the mid-week Betway Premier League.
Despite the results, Mashe noted positive aspects in Sekuhuhune's performances and stated that the three matches provided valuable experience for the players.
Aspects of the game against Pirates
Mashe commented that a positive aspect of the first match against Pirates was the team's ability to control the ball in the second half and create chances, although the number of them was small. He also emphasized that in the Premier League match, they created many opportunities in the second half, and on that day the team performed better, creating numerous chances and taking risks by pushing players forward.
He added that substitutions and the influence of players from the bench could inevitably affect the game, and the team had to put in maximum effort to score a goal. Nevertheless, Mashe believes that the quality Pirates possess in key areas of the field ultimately determined the outcome of all three encounters. Furthermore, he acknowledged that Sekuhuhune could respond better to tactical changes made from the bench.
The latest defeat occurred while Babina Noko continues its rebuilding process under coach Cedric Khase following a major squad overhaul during the offseason. Former captain Linda Mntambo retired, and experienced players like Bradley Grobler and Tabang Monare also left the club as it reformed its squad.
Mashe believes that when evaluating Sekuhuhune's performance, the context must be taken into account, as young players are now integrating with new acquisitions. He concluded that patience will play an important role as Babina Noko works to become a more stable and competitive team.