Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp says that football is a team sport and that blaming injuries for bad results simply does not make sense.

Chiefs were hammered 5-2 on aggregate by Zesco United over two legs in a CAF Confederations Cup playoff tie, losing the second leg 2-1 to the Zambians last Saturday night at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

It appeared individual errors contributed to both Team Ya Ziko's goals with Anthony Akumu and Jesse Were profiting after mistakes from Hendrick Ekstein, Willard Katsande and Virgil Vries.

Nonetheless, the Glamour Boys are suffering with an extended injury list as Itumeleng Khune, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Lebogang Manyama, Joseph Molangoane, Mulomowandau Mathoho, Philani Zulu and Lorenzo Gordinho are all side-lined.

With that said, Middendorp is refusing to use this as an excuse telling the club's official website: "Many of our players have been excellent in recent weeks, including the likes of Hendrick Ekstein and Willard Katsande.

"Tonight, however, they made mistakes, losing possession of the ball in their own half, which cost us two goals. We simply lacked a bit of freshness today.

"We have played fantastic football against Bidvest Wits and AmaZulu without most of these (injured) players. I therefore feel it's unfair to talk about this. We are not playing golf or tennis, we play as a team.

"Zesco are a good side, we hope that Zesco will go far in this competition. We wish them all the luck."

Chiefs will now switch their focus to beating Tornado FC in a Nedbank Cup tie on Sunday at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane.