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The seasoned midfield master was left to lament the opportunities Bucs failed to convert against a strong Usuthu team.
Orlando Pirates midfielder Ben Motshwari admitted that it was difficult to contain his former teammate Luvuyo Memela, as the Soweto giants drew with AmaZulu FC on Saturday night.
The two teams played to a 1-1 draw in their first match of the 2020/21 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season which was played at Jonsson Kings Park Stadium in Durban.
The Buccaneers opened the scoring through Frank Mhango, but Lehlohonolo Majoro leveled things for Usuthu and eventually the two teams settled for a draw.
Motshwari produced a Man of the Match performance as he worked hard to protect the Pirates’ defense.
“It was tough. In the first half, we weren’t in the game because they were coming towards us,” Motshwari told the club’s social platforms.
“But it was because of the mistakes we were making because we kept losing the ball. In the second half we managed to rectify the mistakes we made in the first half.
“We were pushing for a goal, but unfortunately we couldn’t get one tonight, we created quite a few half chances that we shouldn’t convert.”
The 29-year-old was tasked with tagging tricky attacking midfielder man Memela, who recently dumped the Pirates for AmaZulu in a surprise move.
Usuthu received a penalty after Memela was fouled in the penalty area by Fortune Makaringe and former Pirates forward Majoro scored on the rebound after his shot from the spot was stopped by goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands.
“It was difficult for me, especially playing against Memela because I know him. He likes to play between the lines, do all those runs,” Motshwari said.
“I was racing all over the field [and] joining the sides. I had to cover a lot of distance tonight. I handled it [well] tonight even though he was about to score in the final minutes. Everything is good.”
Motshwari, who won the 2016/17 PSL title with the now-defunct Bidvest Wits, believes AmaZulu has done well in the transfer market.
“As for the AmaZulu squad, I think they have signed quality players this season,” he added.
“Coming here, away from home and scoring a point against them, I think it’s a fair point, although we would have loved to score three points tonight.”
AmaZulu has also signed former Pirates forwards Augustine Mulenga and Siphelele Mthembu and former Kaizer Chiefs captain Siphiwe Tshabalala.
