Orlando Pirates manager, Mandla Ncikazi says his side did not deserve to lose to RS Berkane in the CAF Confederation Cup final in Uyo on Friday.
The Soweto boys lost 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in extra time despite dominating the finals.
Youssef El Fahli put Berkane in front from the spot in the seven minutes of extra time after the referee reviewed a foul on a VAR monitor to award a penalty for the Moroccans.
But Orlando Pirates found the equalizer in the 117th minute when a tame shot from Thembinkosi Lorch evaded everyone in a crowded goalmouth to take the match to penalties.
With the South Africans still in search of their first continental glory, Ncikazi believed his side lost a game they could have won in normal time.
“Congratulations to RS Berkane,” the 53 year old said at the post match conference.
“We lost a final and we lost a match that we shouldn’t have lost, it’s a match that we should have won in normal time, it is the story of our season, create so many chances in a match but we don’t just do what is most important which is putting the ball in the net.
“I feel for the players because they fought very hard, but it is what it is right now because we can’t change the result. The most disappointing part is that this is not a match we should have lost based on the dominance and creation of chances we created, but football is like that, if you don’t put the ball in the net, this is the outcome.”
The Buccaneers will return home to face Maritzburg United in one of the two outstanding games in the Premier Soccer League on Tuesday, before traveling to third-placed Royal AM on Friday.
“A loss like this is very sad, as coaches we have the responsibility to lift up the players, you play a league match on Tuesday and play again in the weekend.
“It has not been a good season for our team, the reasons are the ones you saw today, where we dominate games like we dominated today but the final product is not equally the same. We have a responsibility, the coaches must motivate the players to be ready for the next challenge.
“Pirates will come back, Pirates can play better than what we did today, we just have to proof that on the field of play,” Mandla Ncikazi said.
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