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Kabuscorp head coach Roberto Bianchi says there is no shame in being eliminated from the CAF Confederation Cup by one of the top teams on the continent, such as Kaizer Chiefs.
The Angolan side were knocked out 5-4 on penalties in the first preliminary round after Amakhosi won the second leg 1-0 at FNB Stadium on Saturday, levelling the tie 1-1 on aggregate following Kabuscorp’s victory by the same scoreline in Luanda last week. Bianchi says they faced one of the big teams in this tournament, and so it was tough for them.
"Historically, we knew that Kaizer Chiefs is a very strong rival and we know that the PSL is very competitive."
This was Kabuscorp’s maiden appearance in CAF club competitions, and their debut campaign was marred by logistical challenges.
They travelled to South Africa with only 14 players due to visa complications, while two more squad members only arrived in Johannesburg on Friday evening.
Bianchi, however, refused to dwell on the difficulties, describing them as “administrative issues,” and instead lauded his players’ resilience.
With the club still not accustomed to campaigning at this level, Bianchi, who has also coached in Uganda, notes that competing in the Girabola league and the CAF Confederation Cup are distinct challenges.
"Firstly, all competitions are different. The pressure that we are experiencing right now in Girabola is not like we had for this match."
Despite the challenges they faced, the Brazilian-born coach still feels that his players fought bravely on the day to push a big club like Chiefs all the way to penalties.
