Casric Stars co-owner/coach Bucs Mthombeni has issued an apology to their supporters following their shortcomings in the PSL promotion playoffs. The Motsepe Foundation Championship newcomers lost 1-0 to Cape Town Spurs at Athlone Stadium on Wednesday. The result meant the Mpumalanga side could not secure promotion in their maiden season.
The race is now between Spurs and DStv Premiership side Maritzburg United. Casric were a surprise package this season after assembling their squad three weeks before the season commenced. They qualified for the playoffs after finishing third.
CASRIC STARS APOLOGISE TO THEIR SUPPORTERS
Speaking to the media after the match, Mthombeni said their supporters deserve more than what they achieved.
“I am a very spiritual person, so apologies to our supporters,” he said. “I know they deserve something. Someone was giving the stats that if we came here and we won, it was going to boost us.
“But as a Christian, it only takes a man to apologise. Let’s support the team again next season. We will build from these games for next season. We have gained a lot of experience,” added Mthombeni.
BUCS MTHOMBENI TAKES LESSON FROM THE DEFEAT
Mthombeni has also reflected on some lessons they gained during the playoffs.
“In the playoffs, you can’t be allowed to drop points in your first game. If you get one point or three out of your first game, it boosts your morale,” he said.
“Look at Shaun [Shaun Bartlett]. He won all the games with a 1-0 score. Today, we had more chances than we had against Maritzburg, but the ball failed to go inside the net.”
THE CAPE TOWN WEATHER EFFECT
“Not to make an excuse, but the Cape Town weather, it’s like someone is winding something somewhere. Before the halftime break, it was raining, and the goalkeeper couldn’t see. But when we came back from the tunnel, the rain was gone. But that is not an excuse we need to learn. As much as they come to Mpumalanga where they also struggle with the weather.”
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