South African soccer suffered another setback when Premier Soccer League champions SuperSport United crashed out of the African Champions League at the second hurdle.
Kampala City Council upset the form book when they held United to a 1-1 draw in their second round, second leg clash played at Milpark on Saturday night.
The Ugandan champions won the first leg 2-1 at home two weeks ago and advance to the third round on a 3-2 aggregate win.
United coach Gavin Hunt was crestfallen but offered no excuses.
‘This is another disappointing day for local soccer. We should have won. We had countless chances. But we created far more chances in the first leg in Kampala where we should have wrapped up the tie before the first half,†Hunt said.
Hunt could not explain why South African clubs have failed to do well in this competition, given the financial incentive and competitiveness of the PSL.
Since Orlando Pirates won the African Champions Cup, the forerunner of the Champions League in 1995, no local side have followed in their footsteps. Only Mamelodi Sundowns came close when they reached the final in 2001.
It adds further depression to local soccer after Bafana Bafana tamely lost 2-0 to Portugal in a friendly played in Switzerland last Tuesday night.
But goalkeeping errors in both legs saw United crash out of the continent’s most prestigious competition. Dennis Onyango made a blunder in the first round and former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Andre Arendse was at fault for Kampala’s equaliser in the 79th minute by Anthony Bonsole. The goal cancelled an earlier strike in the 57th minute by Mulondo Sikhwivhilu.
‘I am gutted by the result. But the bottom line is that goals win matches and we did not score enough despite creating many more chances than the Ugandans. I know we were the better side. But we are out of the cup and they are into the next round. No matter how you look at it is our fault. But life goes on and we have a Premiership title to defend,†said Hunt.
‘There is no use crying now, we have to pick up the pieces and get on with it. I could go on and give reasons for this defeat but I won’t as it will not help and frankly, we have simply no excuses.â€
United, who head the Absa Premiership standings, host Moroka Swallows at Pretoria University on Wednesday night.
‘The only good thing was that we did create chances and we will have to sharpen up for Swallows. We are out of the Nedbank Cup and now all our focus is on retaining the Premiership title,†said Hunt. – Sapa