Kaitano Tembo is on a mission to rebuild SuperSport United as the three-time champions struggle to plug the gaping holes left by the departures of influential players.

Tembo may have lost the match, but he was brave to start with nine players between the ages 20 and 26, with 19-year-old attacking midfielder Thapelo Maseko making his debut off the bench as Matsatsantsa went down 2-1 in a DStv Premiership clash against Maritzburg United in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday.

The only veteran to start was 36-year-old defender Onismor Bhasera and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who at 30 is at the peak of his powers.

While 22-year-old Jesse Donn scored his first goal for the club, Tembo admitted the lack of depth and experience was duly exploited by 63-year-old veteran German coach Ernst Middendorp’s more experienced squad.

“I am happy for him [Donn], but I think he will be the first one to agree that today he did not play well,” said Tembo.

The defeat left his side stuck in seventh place on 26 points from 18 matches, 22 points behind leading champions and Tshwane rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.

“It is process because we have a very young team here. We will continue to encourage and build them, and I think we also have to start building for the future.

“You saw when we brought in the young Thapelo Maseko for his debut, we have to take that route [of rebuilding].

“It was just unfortunate for Thapelo to come in a game like this [with SuperSport trailing 2-1 and with 13 minutes remaining], but I think that is a process of learning.

“You could see that he was a little bit caught up in the moment and did not really touch the ball, but like I said, it is a process, and for him it is a learning curve and he will get better.

“We will try to build him because we believe he has got the talent,” Tembo said.

Sifiso Ngobeni, the 25-year-old marauding left fullback who joined SuperSport on loan from Sundowns last month, had a tricky debut for a player low on confidence from warming the star-studded Sundowns bench.

“With Sifiso I wanted him to go a bit higher up because we were chasing the game, but technically he is better because he is more of an attacking fullback.

“That is what I wanted him to do as we were a goal down at that time and so we needed to try to get back in the game. He did not do enough of that, but I think with time he will OK.”

SuperSport’s next match is on February 27 at home against stubborn Royal AM and Tembo hopes the long breather will allow the team to clear the sick bay.

“We will probably be able to get some of our players back, like Thamsanqa Gabuza and Kegan Johannes, so this break will give us an opportunity to do that.”

The 51-year-old Tembo has had to make peace with losing former captain Dean Furman‚ key utility midfielder Aubrey Modiba‚ veteran defender Clayton Daniels and attacking midfielder Thabo Mnyamane at the end of last season.

His stocks in experience and quality were further decimated in the January transfer window when they lost their best player, Teboho Mokoena, to rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.

Sipho Mbule is another one of their best players who could leave for greener pastures in the next window or two, but fortunately for Tembo SuperSport is a club that knows how to develop and recruit young players.

Tembo will look to 22-year-old Donn and 21-year-old Jamie Webber to fill the void left by Mokoena in midfield.

He will strive to get the best out of Mbule, whose exit is seemingly inevitable with the big-spending clubs intending to lend the 23-year-old attacking midfielder.

Tembo is in his fourth season in charge of SuperSport. The club finished fifth, sixth and fifth under him, but he has already established himself by winning the MTN8 in his second season in 2019, after losing in the final the previous year.

SuperSport won the last of their three successive Premiership titles in the 2009-10 campaign under Gavin Hunt.