Tornado got their National First Division playoffs campaign off with a nil-all draw against North West’s Buya Msuthu when the two sides met at the Seshego Stadium in Polokwane yesterday.
The one point earned means the Mdantsane-based outfit will need to get maximum points against the hosts The Dolphins at midday today, or they will be sent packing.
But their coach, Tshepo Motsoeneng, said the lads were well aware of what was at stake after having endured a tough encounter against Buya Msuthu.
Motsoeneng labelled their opening game as tactical and a game where they couldn’t penetrate the opposition often enough, but there was no hope lost.
“It was not an easy game, but we have ourselves to blame, because we missed opportunities to score.
“And the only clear-cut opportunity we had hit a cross bar, but in actual sense we say a point is better than nothing,” he said.
“We have another game to play today and it could be good or bad for us, but it doesn’t matter, because we are prepared for anything.”
The former Free State Stars goalkeeper said both sides were countering each other’s moves during the game.
Hence there were no goals scored in the entire 90 minutes.
“When we moved, they moved and when we fell back, they fell back too, and when we opened up gaps to go reach out to them, they did the same.
“So I think we just understood each other a bit better as coaches.”
Motsoeneng said the plan going forward was to score as many goals as possible against the Dolphins, so they could have a better goal difference “just in case we need to have more goals later in order to progress in the competition”.
“We have to wrap up the game against the hosts very early and we have to score at least two or three goals, and then we’ll see what happens on Wednesday.
“Because we are not leaving this place empty handed.
“We are staying here to fight, because everything is in our hands and we just have to believe that we can do it.
“Especially the youngsters. They are starting to realise that they are capable of pushing themselves to their limits.
“Because some of them think this tournament is way too big for them, but they are the ones that made it through to this stage,” he said.
Motsoeneng also stressed the importance of getting the maximum three points against the Limpopo-based outfit [the Dolphins].
“I know we had a tough game against Buya Smuthu, but with the Dolphins it's going to be worse, because they’ve seen us play.
“But it’s not all doom and gloom because there are many positives we took out from this draw, even though we can’t dwell on them.
“And the boys are still in high spirits. We are okay in that department as well, but then again, we have to win this coming game or else we are going home if we continue to draw.”
Yesterday’s results: Maccabi 2 Magareng Young Stars 1, Steenberg United 1 Magaung 0
Today’s fixtures: Tornado v Dolphins, Steenberg United v Umvoti, Magareng v Mpumalanga..