Bullish Ndlovu remains optimistic
Koketso Kgoboge | Tuesday February 14, 2017 15:33
Swallows increased their unbeaten streak in all competitions to 27 games and did not show respect for their hosts.
The Mbabane-based side enjoyed a fair share of attacks from the onset although they took the foot off the pedal after the opening quarter.
But the visitors moved gears after the interval and went onto dominate the closing stages, exactly as their coach Thabo Vilakati defined their game plan after the encounter.
All these, however have not shaken optimistic Orapa United’s mentor, Ndlovu who before the game was confident his charges will progress past the preliminary games. Ndlovu is still adamant they will turn around their tie away in Swaziland at the dreaded Somhlolo fortress where Swallows is yet to taste defeat.
Ndlovu said their problem in the first leg encounter was that they did not attack as much as they wanted because the players had to study their opponents on the pitch, conceding the game was a great lesson in the build up towards the second leg.
“I am happy with how my players played. It was an evenly balanced game and I am happy the players have seen what we have been talking about all week and they have experienced it in field and now they know what to expect,” he said after the game.
“We matched them well and we conceded not directly, but because of a lapse and from an unfortunate cross that could have tricked anyone. They scored an away goal and it is reversible. We believe we stand a chance. It will be a different ball game all together (in Swaziland) and we will go there and give them a run for their money.”
The first batch of the Orapa United delegation inclusive of both the technical team and some players left for Swaziland yesterday (Monday) and the second batch leaves today while members of the executive committee will leave on Thursday.