Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Cedric Kaze has described Ashley du Preez’s last-minute miss in the CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round first-leg clash against AS Simba as an “accident.”
In Saturday’s match in Congo, Du Preez squandered a golden opportunity to secure victory for Amakhosi when, with the goal at his mercy, he fired the ball high over the bar.
The former Stellenbosch FC striker could have simply tapped the ball into the empty net, which would have given Chiefs a crucial first-leg lead. The miss has since gone viral on X (formerly Twitter), sparking widespread discussion and humour among fans.
Despite the setback, Chiefs remain confident ahead of the second leg at Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday, where the tie remains finely poised.
“About Ashley — I won’t say it’s normal, but it happens in football. It was an accident,” said Kaze.
“An accident happened on the field, and he was devastated after the game. He knew that chance could have given us a win in the final minute.
“But as coaches, as a club, and as his teammates, we’re here to support him. It’s easy to throw stones when someone makes a mistake, but we must remember that Ashley has helped us a lot in the past.
“I still remember his last-minute goal against Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup semi-final last season — the goal that took us to the final and ultimately helped us win the trophy.
“The most important thing is to show him our support. He’s a player with a strong mentality, and I’m sure he’ll bounce back quickly.”
The 28-year-old forward, who joined Chiefs from Stellenbosch ahead of the 2022/23 season, has scored 19 goals and provided nine assists in 91 appearances across all competitions.
Amakhosi, currently fourth in the Betway Premiership with 15 points from eight matches, will next face Siwelele FC in a league encounter at FNB Stadium on Wednesday.
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