Polokwane City head coach Phuti Mohafe has taken a hardline stance on accountability following his side’s 3-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld. The talking point of the match was the tactical withdrawal of club captain Puleng Marema, a move Mohafe described as a necessary “punishment” for a squandered opportunity.
With the scoreline at 2-0, Marema had the chance to pull one back from the penalty spot. A goal would have halved the deficit and potentially shifted the momentum; instead, the miss allowed the league leaders to cruise to a comfortable victory.
A Lesson in Leadership
In a candid post-match assessment, Mohafe didn’t hold back on his reasoning for pulling his captain off the pitch immediately following the error.
- Setting the Standard: “When you are a leader, you have to lead by example. You can’t do that,” Mohafe stated, emphasizing that senior players must remain clinical in high-stakes moments.
- The Message: The coach framed the substitution as a deliberate signal to the rest of the squad. “Sometimes you need to punish and people must know when you get that opportunity… you must make sure,” he explained.
- Tactical Regret: Despite the stern approach, Mohafe admitted that “bad decisions” were made both on the pitch and the bench, suggesting that with better finishing, the game could have ended in a 2-2 draw or even a 3-2 victory for Rise and Shine.
The Road Ahead for Rise and Shine
Despite the back-to-back setbacks against Masandawana, Polokwane City remains in a respectable sixth place on the Betway Premiership log. With three games left to play, the focus shifts to securing a top-eight finish and ensuring a spot in next season’s MTN8.
Polokwane City’s Final Fixtures:
| Date | Opponent | Kick-off |
| Wed, 6 May | Richards Bay (Away) | 19:30 |
| Sat, 9 May | Golden Arrows (Away) | 17:30 |
| Sat, 16 May | Marumo Gallants (Home) | 15:30 |
