Kaizer Chiefs interim coach Cavin Johnson has tendered an apology to the club’s fanbase following the humiliating Nedbank Cup last 32 loss against second-tier side Milford United at FNB Stadium.
Chiefs were ousted 5-4 on penalties by the Stallions who displayed an outstanding defensive performance on the night.
This cup defeat could stretch Chiefs’ trophyless run to nine years, with their DSTV Premiership hopes also fading.
The Glamour Boys were guilty of missing numerous chances in the match, the most important one being an extra-time penalty miss by Ranga Chivaviro.
Milford goalkeeper Sphamandla Hleza was named Man of the Match for his brilliant performance, capped with a massive save in the shootout.
“I apologise to our 16 million supporters. I am sure they will have been able to see the game. It is not that we allowed them to come at us.
We tried the best we could to get as far as we could, with the trophy drought as it is. Now we have lost, so the only thing we can do is repay the people by playing properly in the league,” Johnson said in his post-match interview with SuperSport TV.
Johnson said the shock defeat will not damage his reputation. Milford are placed 12th in the Motsepe Foundation Championship this season and are campaigning in their first year having bought the status of Uthongathi.
“I have lost other games like this, I don’t think it damages my reputation, when you see the way the team played.
“If we did not attack or attempt to score, and we made tactical blunders and errors, them maybe. If I didn’t play with defenders and put in (Jasond) Gonzalez as a defender and did dumb things, maybe my reputation would be at stake.
“But I thought we did well, and I think my reputation is still in tact, even though I lost with a big team like Chiefs,” added Johnson.
