I’M RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFEAT - ‘KOKI’

MBABANE – Don’t crucify me like we have lost too many games.” This is how Mbabane Swallows coach Thabo ‘Koki’ Vilakati took the barrage of criticism after Wednesday afternoon’s 1-3 loss to Lesotho’s Bantu F.C in the CAF Champions League.

The experienced coach was quick to take full responsibility of the result that saw many supporters leaving the Somhlolo National Stadium visibly dejected. And in doing so, he reminded the nation that the defeat was the team’s first in all tournaments this season, to warrant such untold crucification.

“As a coach in such situations you take full responsibility. I am not one to shy away from that. But we have another crucial assignment on Sunday against Milling Hotspurs which needs our utmost attention too,” he said.

He opted to rally his troops for the next game than to be entangled in the war words over the game. He said it was best to focus on the positive that the results brought.
“I expect you media guys to emphasise the fact that this was first defeat in all competitions this season. We have gone 28 games unbeaten and we should be proud of that. The team has for the first time ever qualified to the next round of the CAF Champions League tournament. This should be celebrated,” he said.
He as coaches they do accept that football was a game on opinions and that all they would do was to learn from each game and move forward.

The defeat was not well received by the about 5000 home fans who had to the venue to witness Swallows steam rolling over Bantu F.C given the emphatic 4-2 victory in Maseru over 10 days ago. Many protested at the decision to substitute goalscorer Felix Badenhorst at a time when the teams were tied at 1-all. Bantu F.C went to score two late goals for a grandstand finish.

Badenhorst did not mince his words during a post-match interview with the media blaming the coach for the defeat in what has been an unprecedented occurrence.
But Vilakati chose to focus on Sunday’s SwaziBank Cup tie against giant-killing Milling Hotspurs in the last 32 of the tournament.

He said the team was lucky to face a team that has already proven to be dangerous in such competitions given the calibre of clubs they have eliminated.
“We will never take them for granted. If they were able to gun down big teams, then we can’t expect to have a stroll in the park,” he said.

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