Maritzburg United coach Fadlu Davids has lambasted his side’s mentality, saying it has to change as they allowed Royal AM to score in their 3-1 victory in the KZN Derby at Harry Gwala Stadium on Sunday night, saying he will not accept the drop of the intensity.
Davids wanted a clean sheet, but after Amadou Soukouna had scored twice in the first half – the first time that happened this season that Maritzburg scored two goals, and Friday Samu added the second in the injury time – they conceded.
Mfundo Thikazi, having arrived in the second half, scored in injury-time for Royal AM to send jitters to Davids and to the fans who had packed the stands.
Thikazi almost created a second, injecting more life in Abram Nteo’s side, with Davids saying his should forget about what happened in the past months under John Maduka, who he replaced in November.
“The mentality has to change in relation to, when you are 3-0 up with minutes to go, keep the clean sheet,” said Davids after the game.
“Build on this winning mentality. It is not just okay to play around and not be tactically disciplined and that’s how we conceded the goal and that’s what we have to improve on.
“Let go of the last six months because we are a new team and we have to act like a new team not get back to old habits. So changing the mindset, changing this mentality, creating this winning mentality in the match like this to keep the clean sheet, and try to win the next, (we have to work on that).”
Maritzburg, following that win, went three points clear between themselves and bottom side Marumo Gallants to remain 15th spot on the standings with 17 points after 16 matches.
The Team of Choice had beaten the same Limpopo side in the previous game, which means they have won two matches on the bounce for the first time this season.
Next on the menu for the Team of Choice are Golden Arrows at Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday (15:30).
