‘No easy nights in knockout football’

SOCCER – Malanti Chiefs head coach Sreten Pavlovic has reiterated that there are no easy matches in knockout football after his side edged past Louis XIV to book a place in the next round of the MVA Ingwenyama Cup.

Pavlovic said cup competitions required a different mentality, stressing that teams did not need extra motivation when everything was decided in a single match. According to the Serbian mentor, players naturally came out fighting because they had nothing to save for another day.

“In knockout football there are no easy games. Teams don’t need motivation. They come out to fight because there is no tomorrow if you lose,” he said.

Reflecting on the match against Louis XIV, Pavlovic admitted that his side failed to manage the game better after taking a two-goal advantage. Chiefs scored twice but then allowed their opponents back into the contest instead of pressing on and killing the game early.

“We scored two goals and after that we did nothing. That is something we must improve. When you are on top, you must stay calm and be more clinical,” he said.

The coach noted that Malanti Chiefs created several clear-cut chances that could have put the game beyond reach, but poor decision-making in the final third nearly cost them.

“We had opportunities to score more goals. In this kind of competition you cannot relax. You must stay focused and take your chances,” Pavlovic stated.

Despite the nervy finish, Pavlovic expressed satisfaction with the result, saying progression was the most important objective at this stage of the tournament. He praised his players for showing character and composure when the pressure mounted.

“We are happy to be in the next round. What matters is that we are still in the competition and we keep moving forward,” he said.

Looking ahead, Pavlovic believed Malanti Chiefs could continue to defy expectations. He said his squad embraced the underdog label and would use it as motivation against more fancied opponents.

“We are an underdog team and we like it that way. I believe we will surprise a lot of teams,” he said.

With confidence growing and momentum on their side, Malanti Chiefs will now turn their attention to the next challenge, hoping their fighting spirit and tactical discipline can carry them even further in the Ingwenyama Cup.

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