sportskeeda
Polokwane City’s head coach Phuthi Mohafe is determined to achieve a top-eight finish after a remarkable win against Kaizer Chiefs at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday, reflecting their prior triumph over defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
The team from Limpopo dealt Nasreddin Nabi’s outfit their third defeat of the season, with Chiefs player Oswin Apollis scoring the initial goal, followed by Mokibelo Ramabu clinching the victory in the final moments of the game.
Before overcoming the Soweto giants, Rise and Shine secured a 1-0 victory against Manqoba Mngqithi’s Sundowns in October, with a pivotal goal from Bulelani Nikani, in a match where the Brazilians shockingly went without a shot on target.
After leading the City to an eighth-place finish in their return to the top flight last season, Mohafe is set on maintaining the momentum to achieve consecutive strong finishes in the Betway Premiership.
“Our aim is to secure a spot in the top eight, which means we cannot afford to lose matches if we wish to stay there. Winning games demonstrates our potential to remain in the top eight,” remarked the coach from Limpopo.
Mohafe, who stepped in after the unexpected departure of Lehlohonolo Seema to Sekhukhune United in November 2023, called on his players to embrace a new mindset, believing in their potential to become a formidable team.
“We must not undervalue ourselves by saying, ‘We are still a small team.’ It’s essential to elevate our game and compete against every opponent because the value of points is consistent, regardless of whether they come from larger or smaller teams,” he emphasized.
“Currently, striving for the top three supports our ambitions for the top eight; we just need to keep up the hard work.”
Moreover, the 50-year-old coach made a noteworthy comment, asserting that TS Galaxy presented tougher challenges to his team than either Chiefs or Sundowns. Galaxy held City to a 1-1 draw in Polokwane earlier this month. “So far, I can say there are vital matches that Polokwane City has participated in, and we managed them well. I regard Sundowns, Chiefs, and TS Galaxy as the most prominent, with Galaxy being a more challenging opponent than Chiefs and Sundowns, in my opinion,” Mohafe stated.
“They present a significant challenge to defeat, which reflects on our performance as the technical staff of Polokwane City as a whole.”
Rise and Shine have climbed to third place in the league and are set to host 10th-placed Marumo Gallants, who are entering the match with two straight victories, ahead of their game at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday.
