Pupuma Remains Upbeat Despite Penalty Heartbreak
Milford FC coach Xanti Pupuma was far from disheartened following his side’s narrow Nedbank Cup semifinal exit to TS Galaxy on Sunday.
Despite a grueling 120 minutes of football that ended in a 4-3 sudden-death penalty shootout loss at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium, Pupuma maintained a philosophical outlook.
The Rockets, the 2019 champions, now advance to the “Ke Yona” Cup final against Durban City, who secured their spot by defeating Casric Stars on Saturday.
Focusing on the “Bigger Picture”
Speaking to SuperSport TV post-match, Pupuma noted that penalty outcomes often come down to luck—a factor that had favored Milford in previous rounds.
“We have had luck in penalties before,” said Pupuma after the game.
“Maybe it was their turn. But I’m actually not disappointed about how we played.
“I think we represented ourselves quite well, but unfortunately, we had to think about the bigger picture [of getting promotion from the Motsepe Foundation Championship].
“I think making the changes did affect the game; it took a while for us to settle in, and they managed to use that moment to get a goal.
“It’s part of the game; it’s a decision we made before the game, so it is not a train smashed, I’m not stressed about.”
A Statement of Intent
The KwaZulu-Natal side currently sits atop the Motsepe Foundation Championship table. While the cup dream has ended, Pupuma believes the performance proved his players belong in the top flight.
“We will take a lot of positives,” he said.
“Even in today’s [Sunday] game, the boys can see that they can actually compete with PSL teams, and they can play at the same level that is required.
“On another day, we could have concluded this game in 90 minutes because we had a lot of chances to finish it off.
“But that comes with time; it has been a long season. So, I’m not really frustrated about it. But [this exit] allows focusing on the promotion, and hopefully, we get it at the end of the day.”
Milford returns to league action this Wednesday when they host Casric Stars in a massive top-of-the-table clash.
