Having fallen behind in the second half of the league campaign, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Johan Neeskens has told his side to improve their finishing if they are to lift the last available trophy on offer this season.
Sundowns, after dominating in the early part of the Premiership, eventually ended fourth, and Neeskens said they hoped to rectify their errors when they face SuperSport United in the Nedbank Cup final in Soweto on Saturday.
“Our performance in the second round was not the same as before the break and especially not in scoring goals,” Neeskens said on Tuesday.
“Why? If you knew that then you could maybe do something about it.
“We did a lot of practising with crossing, with finishing on goal, and you hope it goes further in the game, but unfortunately in a lot of games it was not the case.”
Their approach had not changed, Neeskens insisted, but failure to capitalise on their opportunities had seen them slip in the closing stages of the Premiership campaign.
“We played the same style, we created five, six opportunities but then we didn't score, and if you don't score you don't win games,” he said.
Sundowns would brush off their league woes, with a chance to finish the season on a high, and if they failed against SuperSport they would hold their heads high and start preparing for the 2012/13 campaign.
“We are disappointed that we could not win the league,” Neeskens said.
“We are disappointed as the coach, as the players and as a club, but now we go for silverware and hopefully it is on our side.
“If not, we will once again be very disappointed, but life goes on and you have to prepare yourself for a good second year.”
Neeskens believed Sundowns and SuperSport, who finished third in the Premiership, would offer a thrilling conclusion to the season.
“I think for any team to reach the final it is a big one, and a lot of teams are hoping to play a final, so we are lucky to be one of the two,” he said.
“We are going to give our best... and see what is happening in the game. We are facing a good team.
“They are also very interested to win this one, so hopefully it's going to be a nice match with good football and may the best team win.
“It is always important to win silverware, no matter what it is, it is an opportunity that you have, so we will go 100 percent to win this one.” – Sapa