Marumo Gallants coach Dan Malesela says his side are already showing good signs despite their defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in the semi-finals of the Carling Knockout Cup.

Siwelele Sa Marumo fell to a 2-0 defeat to Sundowns in the semi-finals ending their journey in the competition.

The Bloemfontein outfit were undone by goals from Lucas Ribeiro Costa and Neo Maema at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium.

Malesela believes this was a learning curve for his side and will look at the positives going forward.

“I wish the results could have been different but what can you do? You can only be grateful and can only appreciate these kids and what they do, the efforts they make,” Malesela told SuperSport after the game.

“We’re only a few months old and already the signs are very good and I’m hoping they can grow. The confidence can grow, they can take something out of these games.

“Some of these kids I look at the beginning, and [asked myself] ‘Will this one make it?’ And now I’m eating humble pie and they’ve proven me wrong in so many ways and I’m happy for them,” Malesela said.

“I wish this was different with all these supporters but I think this is a sign of appreciation towards what these kids are doing. In a different day maybe we would’ve been lucky, we could have converted maybe but it wasn’t to be.”