TS Galaxy’s interim coach Bernard Parker described their Nedbank Cup final loss to Durban City as “a tough one” on Saturday night.
The Rockets, who won the 2019 Nedbank Cup, took the lead via an own goal but conceded twice in the second half at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium. City thus became the first team from KZN to clinch the South African FA Cup, and qualified for the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup.
Parker, who was part of the Kaizer Chiefs team that lost to Galaxy in the 2019 final, praised their first-half plan and set-piece threat but felt they lacked calm aggression, forward effectiveness, and game management after half-time.
“It’s a tough one; it’s a tough one. First half, we had a plan, we stuck to the plan in terms of making sure we neutralise their threats and their runners to run behind our defence. We did well in that regard, us coming out after regaining possession going forward, we could’ve done better in that regard,” Parker told SuperSport TV after the game.
“But the players didn’t have the calm aggression in terms of our forward play and being in possession. There and there were moments, but we needed more of the moments in that regard and set-plays we’ve been working a lot on set-plays it’s where we got our goal from a set-play. We posed a threat in that way which is good, then we went into halftime, we had a strong chat halftime that we cannot turn away with this opportunity that God has given us and we must make sure we got in and show more character at the same time enjoy the match.
“They had their combination play on the left-side with their fullback and winger giving us a little bit of problems, our right-back centre-back in this case Mbunjana caught in-between a question does he have to engage or does he stay behind but we managed to sort that out. The goal came, thereafter we should’ve had more game-management in terms of how we retaining ball in terms of also us retaining the ball in a sense we want to be effective not retaining the ball and making side passes. By retaining the ball going forward, being effective going forward, which we didn’t do much. The second goal came in from another error,” the retired forward-cum-midfielder continued.
“We changed the tactics a bit in terms of trying to stretch their defence, pinning down their full-backs with Mahlambi going up as a left-wing and Zindonga going up as a right-wing and then we looked a bit better in terms of coming out when we regained possession.
“And we looked like we going to get a goal, but a little bit more I think a little bit more fluid on the back-foot and keeping the foot of the gas we could’ve got something but it’s football, and we just have to make sure we work hard for the rest of the games and collect as much points as we can. Also, congratulations to Durban City.”
