Even though the red card to midfielder Bongani Zungu gave Golden Arrows numerical advantage in their win over Mamelodi Sundowns, coach Pitso Mosimane admitted that fielding Soumahoro Bangaly didn't help his team's cause.
The recently registered Ivorian defender was given his first start for the club at the Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday.
But he endured a nightmarish debut that saw him replaced at half time.
"Normally we wouldn't play him, but Thabo Nthethe got injured earlier in the week and we were left thin and had to throw him in the deep end," said Mosimane, whose side went a man down in the 18th minute after Zungu received his second yellow card from referee Victor Gomes.
"He is a good player but he doesn't understand the culture yet."
Bangaly, who arrived as a free agent from ASEC Mimosas, was partially involved in the misunderstanding that led to Arrows' opening goal.
With the ball up in the air and probably needing a routine clearance or back pass to goalkeeper Dennis Onyango, the central defender instead laid it on the path of on-rushing striker Rodney Ramagalela, who was then fouled by the keeper, leaving Gomes no choice but to award a penalty.
Mabhuti Khenyeza converted the spot kick and, almost immediately, it was a debut to forget for Bangaly.
"I knew that with ten against 11 it was going to be difficult for him, especially if we fought to go forward," said Mosimane.
"We would have been open and vulnerable in counter-attacks because Rodney Ramagalela is speedy.
"We had to make sure we had the right pace, hence Wayne Arendse, who is a quick defender. Bangaly is not Alje Shut's replacement, it will be very tough to find one."
But one man smiling from ear to ear was Mosimane's counterpart Serame Letsoaka. It was his first big scalp of the season and, barring rookie mistakes by goalkeeper Philani Zikalala that went unpunished, Arrows earned the maximum points.
"We have not really gone to the level we want. We are still building a team defensively it is working very well, but could still be improved," Letsoaka said.
Pitso pins defeat on jittery debutant
Even though the red card to midfielder Bongani Zungu gave Golden Arrows numerical advantage in their win over Mamelodi Sundowns, coach Pitso Mosimane admitted that fielding Soumahoro Bangaly didn't help his team's cause.
The recently registered Ivorian defender was given his first start for the club at the Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday.
But he endured a nightmarish debut that saw him replaced at half time.
"Normally we wouldn't play him, but Thabo Nthethe got injured earlier in the week and we were left thin and had to throw him in the deep end," said Mosimane, whose side went a man down in the 18th minute after Zungu received his second yellow card from referee Victor Gomes.
"He is a good player but he doesn't understand the culture yet."
Bangaly, who arrived as a free agent from ASEC Mimosas, was partially involved in the misunderstanding that led to Arrows' opening goal.
With the ball up in the air and probably needing a routine clearance or back pass to goalkeeper Dennis Onyango, the central defender instead laid it on the path of on-rushing striker Rodney Ramagalela, who was then fouled by the keeper, leaving Gomes no choice but to award a penalty.
Mabhuti Khenyeza converted the spot kick and, almost immediately, it was a debut to forget for Bangaly.
"I knew that with ten against 11 it was going to be difficult for him, especially if we fought to go forward," said Mosimane.
"We would have been open and vulnerable in counter-attacks because Rodney Ramagalela is speedy.
"We had to make sure we had the right pace, hence Wayne Arendse, who is a quick defender. Bangaly is not Alje Shut's replacement, it will be very tough to find one."
But one man smiling from ear to ear was Mosimane's counterpart Serame Letsoaka. It was his first big scalp of the season and, barring rookie mistakes by goalkeeper Philani Zikalala that went unpunished, Arrows earned the maximum points.
"We have not really gone to the level we want. We are still building a team defensively it is working very well, but could still be improved," Letsoaka said.
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