Royal AM co-coach Khabo Zondo says certain players froze against Orlando Pirates in their MTN8 encounter on Saturday evening.
The KwaZulu-Natal side's first appearance in the MTN8 ended at the first hurdle as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Buccaneers at Chatsworth Stadium.
Zondo lamented the errors that led to both of Pirates' goals, but feels the occasion might have been to big for some players.
"Firstly well done to Orlando Pirates, they gave a good fight and they took their chances but I thought we gave them those two goals, easy for them," Zondo told SuperSport after the game.
"But at the end of the day we also fought towards the end, our second half much better. Certain players froze, maybe respecting Orlando Pirates, I don't know.
"But it happens in the game, the game looked like it was a cup match. It had it's moments where you thought Pirates would score as well because they also got chances they could have finished. But we also had our own chances we could not finish."
Royal AM will now turn their attention to next week's DStv Premiership encounter away to Sekhukhune United.
Check out the action from Pirates' win over Royal AM:
