THEY CAPITALISED ON OUR MISTAKES - SIGION

DURBAN – Nsingizini Hotspurs Coach Alexio Sigion felt his team committed costly errors in their Confederation of African Football (CAF) opener.

He articulated these sentiments during a post-match interview following his team’s 0-3 defeat to Stellenbosch at Moses Mabhida Stadium, on Saturday, in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup. “It was a game of two halves; we had fair opportunities but failed to convert. They capitalised on our mistakes and triumphed,” Sigion remarked. He acknowledged that while he could identify these blunders, their ramifications were detrimental. “The loss has galvanised us, and competing in CAF serves as significant motivation,” he added. Sigion expressed that although their adversaries exploited their errors, there remains optimism for the second leg. The final match of the first preliminary round will also be contested at Moses Mabhida Stadium, with kick off scheduled for 3pm. 

He characterised the loss as a valuable learning experience, noting that nearly 90 per cent of the players had not previously participated in a CAF inter-club competition. Meanwhile, Stellenbosch Coach Steve Barker conveyed that they commenced the game effectively and controlled the first-half. “We exhibited confidence in possession, and our ball movement was commendable. Although we grew frustrated by our inability to score, we remained patient until we broke the deadlock just before half-time,” he explained. 

He noted that they continued to exert pressure in the second half. “We maintained the pressure, and eventually, we scored in the second half to consolidate our lead,” he asserted. He attributed credit to his players for their victory. He expressed particular praise for Sambulo ‘Masoso’ Simelane and Pius Awuah, who performed admirably for the Eswatini side. “The tie is far from over, and we anticipate a challenging encounter as we approach the second leg,” he remarked.

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