sportskeeda
Polokwane City coach Phuthi Mohafe has confidently pinpointed a key area where he believes his team outperforms others in the Betway Premiership, despite their recent dip in form.
The Limpopo-based side faced a difficult defeat, losing 1-0 to Orlando Pirates in their most recent league encounter on Saturday. This loss contributes to a concerning pattern for the club, which has now experienced five defeats in their last 10 league outings, alongside three draws and only two wins.
Currently, Rise and Shine occupies the sixth position in the standings, trailing behind Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, who are in third place. The team has accrued 34 points from 24 matches, just three points away from a CAF Confederations Cup position.
Even with the struggles to maintain their strong start to the season, the City coach asserts that his team continues to be the leading force in the league at generating early scoring chances.
“When assessing the league overall and the rate at which we create chances, I’m confident we are the top team in this aspect. We often produce the most opportunities within the first five minutes of matches, yet we frequently fail to convert them and find ourselves scoring late,” remarked Mohafe.
“Therefore, we need to concentrate on making the most of these chances early on instead of delaying until the final moments. Missed opportunities can significantly affect our success,” he emphasized.
“If we don’t score and the other team manages to do so, they will defend staunchly, as Pirates did.”
Mohafe expanded on why his players often find themselves with opportunities to score early, associating their ability to generate chances with a winning mentality combined with a strong resolve to triumph against any challenge.
“I believe our approach to matches, driven by the desire and determination to win, is what enables us to earn the first scoring opportunity of the game,” the coach, who took up his position in November 2023, explained.
As the season advances toward its pivotal stages, the race for continental football heats up, with City preparing to face third-placed Sekhukhune United in their next Betway Premiership fixture on Saturday, April 19.
