Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has revealed what he told Yanela Mbuthuma after his penalty miss in the 5-4 shootout defeat to Saint Eloi Lupopo on Saturday.
The Buccaneers staged a heroic three-goal comeback and many thought they had the momentum going into the penalty shootout after Oswin Appollis late goal to level the tie.
Earlier Masindi Nemtajela and Mbuthuma had made the comeback possible, but the latter turned from hero into villain after missing the final spot-kick – with Deon Hotto also failing to convert the first penalty.
After the match, Mbuthuma was heartbroken and near inconsolable, with Ouaddou revealing he went straight to the striker after the shootout loss.
“The first player that I have just seen after the game it’s him,”
“I went quickly on the pitch, just to tell him to chin up, to be proud of he did when he came because he scored a goal.
“Maybe without him we could have lost the game before. So he’s still young, I told him, he’s still young and he has many competitions this season.
“And he will be very important for us. What I liked also that all the colleagues went to him to help him and in that moment it is that we need colleagues, and teammates, not when everything is going well.
“We recognise a strong team solidarity when the things are going wrong as well. It’s what the players did towards him, and we will continue to work.
“Life must continue for him.”
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