Maduka still hoping for CCL spot

The Royal AM head coach John Maduka says they still have a chance to end the current season as runners-up as that would grant them an opportunity to play in the CAF Champions League next season.

If they eventually see their dream, in reality, Royal AM would be the second KwaZulu-Natal-based team to compete in the continental competition after AmaZulu were in the tournament this season under the leadership of coach Benni McCarthy.

Thwihli Thwahla missed the chance to close the gap between themselves and the second positioned Cape Town City when they lost 3-2 to the DStv Premiership Champions Mamelodi Sundowns. The Citizens are on 49 points while Maduka’s troops have 46 points in the bag.

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Maduka told SuperSport after the game against Sundowns that since they had issues with injuries and playing a team of that calibre wouldn’t be easy. “Ja you’re right, especially in the second-half, first-half zero. To play a team of this calibre, four, five, or six players are not on top form.

“You have a problem because they’re a quality team, they’ll punish you. If you look at first half we didn’t play, the second half much better.

“Our defence, big problem but you can’t fault them, remember we’re using midfielders to play there because of injuries that we have, so you cannot fault them, they tried,” he said.

“But when you play a team like this you have to be well balanced, you have to be able to defend because if you don’t defend they’ll be able to punish you like the way it is.

“And again from 3-0 to try and get back into the game not easy but the boys worked so hard and they tried until we managed to get those two goals.”

In order to join the Brazilians in the Champions League next season, Royal AM need three points in a match that they will clash with Orlando Pirates on Friday. The Buccaneers are also still hoping for the second spot. If they win all their remaining games, chances of qualifying would be high.

“We still have a chance, this what God provided for us, this game of course we wanted to win. In as much as we wanted to win it didn’t happen, we have another chance,” he continued.

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“We must make sure we grab with both hands, we’re going to play against another very difficult team, it’s not going to be easy, it’s very important for us to play throughout the match.

“We don’t play in moments because if you look at this game first-half we did not play, second-half after we conceded the third goal that’s when we looked like now we can begin to play.

“You know we must start the game well and finish it strongly, we know we can finish the game strong, so we have to improve is to start the game well,” he added.