Ajax Cape Town coach Stanley Menzo says he blames himself for their shock defeat against KwaDukuza United in the Nedbank Cup on Saturday.

Ayanda Makua opened the scoring in the first minute for the Urban Warriors before Lizo Mthabela equalised nine minutes later. However, the match was forced to penalties after Menzi Madela cancelled out Prince Nxumalo’s 67th minute goal.

KwaDukuza United eventually secured a 4-4 victory on penalties over the Urban Warriors when the match finished 2-2 after 120 minutes of play.

The 53-year-old coach says he is disappointed with the way his side performed against the lower league side, and admits he is to blame for the their Nedbank Cup exit.

‘All of us – the staff – we have to feel sorry for the whole club, because it was embarrassing,’ Menzo told the Ajax Cape Town website.

‘I don’t want to blame one person, I don’t want to blame players … I blame myself, and everyone who was here because we all were disappointed how Ajax played to our fans and the club.’

Menzo continued to say that he credits KwaDukuza for their performance on the day, but he insists that his side are now focusing on their next match against Ea Lla Koto.

‘You know that when a lower league team play a higher league team, they always give something more and that we knew,’ he added.

‘And that is what they showed and big compliments to them, and nothing wrong with their performance, it was great.

‘But this was a chance [for us] to win the game, but it is [now] a moment to get confident and win the next game and get out of this, and that is a shame.’

Ajax Cape Town will next take on Free State Stars in the Absa Premiership on Friday.The Urban Warriors will set their hopes on reviving their Absa Premiership form with a victory over Free State Stars at Athlone Stadium on Friday evening.

The match at Athlone Stadium kicks off at 20:00.