Mathiane Defends Kunene After Costly Error At Loftus
Marumo Gallants interim coach Trevor Mathiane has urged patience and support for Msindisi Kunene following a costly mistake during their Betway Premiership clash at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Gallants suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns, but Mathiane’s focus after the match shifted firmly toward protecting and developing the 24-year-old Kunene, who endured a difficult moment in the second half.
Kunene, who joined Gallants on loan from AmaZulu during the January transfer window, attempted to entertain fans by showboating in Sundowns’ half.
However, the move backfired when Teboho Mokoena dispossessed him, sparking a dangerous counter-attack. The ball quickly found Arthur Sales, who drove forward before delivering a pass near the Gallants penalty area, allowing Mokoena to finish and score Sundowns’ second goal.
Despite the costly nature of the error, Mathiane stood firmly behind his player and emphasized the importance of guidance over criticism.
“I think it is all about motivating the young boy,” Mathiane said.
“He is a young player from AmaZulu; they loaned him to us. So, such things happen, and in football, once you make a mistake, they punish you.
“This is a game of mistakes, so as a coach, you have to take it, but you need to talk to the players and be strict with them about these mistakes.
“He did that, and they took the ball and then scored against us. It was unfortunate that we made a mistake, and they punished us, and we need to support the boy.”
The 37-year-old mentor, who was recently promoted from the club’s DStv Diski Challenge side, also reflected on his own appointment as interim head coach.
Having guided the reserve team from 15th to sixth position, Mathiane believes his work at the development level played a role in earning him the opportunity.
“On that (why the club made me the interim coach), I can’t comment because I was with the DDC team where I took them from number 15 to number six,” he added.
“I think that’s why the chairman (Abram Sello) gave me a chance to come and join the first team. The chairman said let’s see where I will put the team because Alex (Lafitte) was struggling to win games as he was playing draws.
“My first game we played against Chippa, and we won 3-1, then lost against Arrows because of the red card that we got in the first half. We lost again against Sundowns, but I’m still positive that we will get out of that relegation zone.”
Looking ahead, Gallants will aim to bounce back after the FIFA international break when they travel to face Magesi on 7 April, in what could prove to be a crucial encounter in their fight for survival.
