IF you don’t pull the trigger, the gun won’t go off.
Shot-shy Thanda Royal Zulu FC learned this lesson to their bitter cost when they went down 1-0 to Maluti FET College at the uMhlathuze stadium on Saturday.
A solitary goal from a deflected free kick 10 minutes from the final whistle separated the two teams, neither of which will be happy with their mediocre performance.
But it’s Amabhubesi who will rue the fact that, while they came close on a number of occasions, none of these chances was from a direct shot at the back of the net.
Three times the ball was dribbled past Khuse in the students’ goals, only for the strong wind to blow the ball agonisingly past the woodwork.
There was also plenty of loose ball bobbing around in the visitors’ box, but not a strike of note to bother the Maluti stopper.
Countless free kicks well within range were not thumped but tamely lobbed over the defensive wall and were easily dealt with.
With full time looming, Thanda’s reluctance to take responsibility was epitomised when substitute Maneli inexplicably chose to pass the ball back into the crowded goal area when an open shot beckoned just five metres from the net.
There is very little encouragement for Thanda to take from this match.
They looked like exactly what they are: a side that has lost all its best players to PSL clubs and is rebuilding, throwing inexperienced but willing young players into the fray and failing as a unit.
Their zeal and work rate cannot be faulted but they need to grow up very quickly in footballing terms.
And that includes taking responsibility for shooting at goal.
