Polokwane City coach Phuti Mohafe has revealed the tactical approach behind his side’s surprise 1-0 win over league giants Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday.
Bulelani Nikani’s late goal in the 82nd minute sealed all three points for Polokwane in a hard-fought Betway Premiership clash at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
“We managed the spaces between our defence and midfield very well, especially where [Marcelo] Allende and [Tashreeq] Matthews were looking to create,” Mohafe explained to reporters.
“Our focus was to keep them wide by setting traps, so as soon as they moved the ball to the flanks, we pressed them aggressively.”
Polokwane’s disciplined defensive setup and well-timed counters were central to their strategy against a ball-dominant Sundowns side.
Acknowledging their style, Mohafe said, “We can’t match them in terms of possession; we’re a team that relies on a defensive structure.
“So, we focused on blocking their attempts and making our chances count on the counter and set-pieces, which led to our goal.”
Looking ahead, Polokwane face Royal AM on Wednesday, before another encounter with Sundowns a week later.
Mohafe is bracing for challenging fixtures, noting, “Royal AM plays similarly to Sundowns, occupying similar spaces, so we’ll need to grind out results.”
He also anticipates a tougher test when Sundowns return to full strength for their rematch, adding, “When we face them next, it’ll be different as they’ll likely have a more settled line-up.”