Blue Aces coach finds a silver lining after 1-8 defeat
While Alex Gunners secured an 8–1 victory against Blue Aces in the U17 Maimane Alfred Phiri Games, both coaches walked away with lessons, one proud of his underdog's growth, the other demanding a better performance.
What spectators noticed during the clash between Alex Gunners FC and Blue Aces FC at Alexandra Stadium on November 1 was the Gunners’ relentless succession of goals.
But for Blue Aces coach Mzeke Mafa, the heavy defeat was less about the scoreboard and more about the hard lessons shaping his young squad.
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Despite the 1-8 loss in the U17 Maimane Alfred Phiri Games, Mafa said he was proud of his players’ progress. He explained that he had fielded younger players, with most of his boys U14, to expose them to tougher competition. “We were not playing to merely win; my players are U14, and they were playing in the U17 division. I am not chasing a win. I am concerned about their development,” said Mafa.
He added that the experience was part of a long-term plan to prepare his U15s to compete confidently at higher levels, even if it meant enduring short-term setbacks.
On the opposite bench, Alex Gunners coach Lesiba Ditshego was far from satisfied, despite his team’s victory. He argued that his side should have been more ruthless in front of goal, especially given their early dominance and their previous win over the same opponent.
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“I am still not happy; they need to learn to score. Keep scoring so that you get used to putting the ball in the net. This is development, they must develop such habits,” Ditshego said. “The last time we beat them [we scored] nine, but today we beat them 8–1. It is not good enough. It should have been at least 13.”
Ditshego pointed to their recent 4–3 victory over Alex Black Poison as a more meaningful performance, despite the lower score margin. His assessment was based entirely on the strength of the opponent. He said Alex Black Poison was a tougher opponent compared to Blue Aces. He added that if his players’ performance against Blue Aces was the same as when they played against Alex Black Poison, they would have scored even more goals.
In the end, the scoreboard told one story, but the coaches told another. For Mafa, the defeat was a stepping stone for his young charges, but for Ditshego, victory was not enough without sharper execution.
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