Two glaring shortcomings cost Wynberg St. Johns (WSJ) dearly on the opening weekend of Safa Cape Town’s Third Division campaign – a failure to capitalise on promising chances and an inability to contain Cape Town City’s electric wingers on either flank.
The result was a harsh but valuable lesson for new head coach Chrissando de Weber whose tenure began with a 4-2 defeat to the youthful Citizens in their opening SAFA Cape Town Third Division League fixture.
Despite the disappointing outcome, De Weber refused to make excuses, offering an honest assessment after watching his side squander several clear-cut opportunities in the early stages of the match.
“Goals win games and if you don’t take your chances against a team like City, they will punish you in the end,” De Weber told No Bones with Jones. “But we learn from it and move on. We shift our focus to another tough game. Hats off to City, they played extremely well.”
Despite consolation strikes from Ashton Petersen and Brent Vealle, WSJ’s wastefulness in front of goal and defensive lapses at the back left De Weber and his technical team (pictured) with plenty to ponder after an opening-day defeat. For a coaching staff that prides itself on organisation and discipline, shipping four goals was a bitter pill to swallow.
“Ja, look, I’m not happy with the goals we conceded,” De Weber admitted. “We were not disciplined enough in certain areas and that allowed City to capitalise on our mistakes. Like they say, strikers win you games with goals, but a solid defence can win you a league. Because if you don’t concede, you don’t lose.”
For De Weber, it was a painful introduction to life on the WSJ bench, but one that has provided an early reminder of the fine margins at this level. If his side can become more clinical in front of goal and tighten up defensively, this opening-day setback may yet prove an important lesson rather than an early-season warning sign.
PHOTO SUPPLIED
