Maritzburg United coach Fadlu Davids says his side will “never give up” in their fight for survival this season.
This, after the Team of Choice came from behind to draw 1-1 with Richards Bay in the DStv Premiership, match at Harry Gwala Stadium on Friday night.
Bay took a deserved lead in the first half through the powerful pile driver by Sanele Barns on the edge of the box with the ball falling fortuitously to him before rifling at the far corner to beat King Ndlovu.
Then Maritzburg piled forward in search of the equaliser and it eventually came through Genito Palace, whose towering header squirmed under the fingers of Salim Magoola in the added minutes, with the volume of noise shooting up with the home fans left jubilated.
“With how we unlocked them, this is the mentality that we need,” said David after the game. “One thing for sure we won’t give up, we won’t give up.
“We will take the same mentality, the same aggressive approach to win matches because we need to create more because there are definitely goals that is missing…
“Not to lose this game was very, very important, giving us that small nudge. We have to take this nudge to the next game (against Swallows at Dobsonville Stadium on Thursday).
“But one thing for sure, in the next game, every game, we will give everything to get the three points. That nudge we will take it and move forward for the next game against Swallows.”
Maritzburg, who came alive in the second half, missed two great chances from Friday Samu, who was brilliantly picked out by Karim Kimvuidi on the left-hand side in the 50th minute, but the Zambian striker headed the ball straight to Magoola.
It was the same with Kwame Peprah, who dug the header deep at the near post but the ball was easily saved by Magoola.
For the third time of asking, Maritzburg was left in glee land, as Palace’s powerful header evened the numbers.
“We could have still scored the winner due to the pressure we were putting them under,” said Davids, who was the assistant coach when Maritzburg faced the same situation in the 2015/16 season under Ernst Middendorp.
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“But all is not lost. We had really good performances after the three wins in a row, but not getting the results.
“When you play well, when you create chances like tonight and you don’t get the results, you can’t feel sorry for yourself, you just have to continue to push and fight for the next one and that is what we will do. It’s not over and not all is lost.”
Following the draw, Maritzburg remained at the bottom of the table with 25 points after 26 matches, one behind 15th-placed Chippa United.
