Kaizer Chiefs interim coach Patrick Mabedi stated that beating his former coach Muhsin Ertugral felt like bagging a win over a relative.
The Malawian legend was handed the coaching reigns after Steve Komphela’s resignation last month following their 2-0 defeat at the hands of Free State Stars in the Nedbank Cup.
In Mabedi's first few games in charge, he led the club to a loss against Golden Arrows and now back-to-back wins over Maritzburg United and the Urban Warriors as they concluded their 2017/18 Premier Soccer League (PSL) campaign.
Speaking after the match at the Cape Town Stadium, the former skipper who led the Soweto giants under Ertugral’s tutelage said Ajax did not take their chances.
Moreover, the former Malawi skipper served as Ertugral’s right hand man at Mpumalanga Black Aces a few seasons ago before the club was eventually sold and later renamed Cape Town City.
The victory meant that Amakhosi qualified for the Caf Confederation Cup for next season having amassed 48 points from 30 matches as they finished third on the table.
“It was a privilege for me to coach against him because I learnt a lot from my coach‚ because this is my coach,” Mabedi said after the match.
"It was nice to face up against the person I learnt such a lot from‚ but unfortunately it came at the wrong time with them in a difficult situation and it is a bit like working in a police station and then you are told to go and arrest your own relative," he continued.
"You still have to go and do the job. It was not easy," he said.
"I knew that he (Ertugral) would analyse our tactics and he did that and they started well and it was unfortunate for him because his players did not take their chances," he reacted.
"Maybe they didn’t respond well,” he concluded.
The victory will see the Naturena-based outfit join Orlando Pirates and PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns in representing South Africa on the continent next season.
