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Madida unrattled by 'two howling fans'

Fani Madida shrugged off the growing anger of the Moroka Swallows fans at the alarming form of his team.

This was after the Birds crashed out of the Nedbank Cup in the first round with a 2-1 defeat to Pretoria University on Wednesday night.

In many ways an early exit from the season's last cup competition could prove a blessing as it allows Swallows to concentrate solely on their increasingly desperate situation in the Absa Premiership.

But that was no consolation to angry Swallows fans who called for Madida's head after the game. Chief executive Leon Prins had to be escorted by security after approaching the supporters, attempting to intervene. Prins was pushed and shouted at by a group of eight to 10 fans until security arrived.

Madida tried to downplay the events.

"Do you call them fans because they are wearing Swallows colours? I don't think they are that important - there are other things that are more important that we can talk about," the Swallows coach said.

Afterwards, Madida said it was only "two fans shouting".

The fans' anger at Prins is not surprising, too, as a strong feeling exists that the CEO has failed to replenish a squad that still contains key performers who were already ageing from the side that finished runners-up under Gordon Igesund in the 2011-12 season.

AmaTuks c oach Sammy Troughton saw his side overwhelm Swallows for the first 25 minutes, but only take a 1-0 lead through Thabo Mosadi's seventh-minute goal. This allowed Swallows to score an equaliser through Rudi Isaacs in the 35th. Atusaye Nyondo sneaked a winner for Tuks in the 74th.