Mohafe Admits Tactical Errors Against Pirates
Polokwane City coach Phuti Mohafe admitted that his team’s plan to press Orlando Pirates’ new signings Sihle Nduli and Sipho Mbule backfired in their 2-0 loss in the MTN8 Cup quarterfinal on Saturday.
Mohafe said that his team didn’t close the spaces in the first half and failed to get enough pressure on the passer and receiver of the ball.
“I think that was the plan (to press Nduli and Mbule), but our plan backfired on us because if you check, we didn’t close the spaces in the first half, and we didn’t even get enough to the passer and receiver of the ball,” Mohafe said.
“I can admit, we had a flat, flat first half, we went to the second half, then we corrected that. After correcting that, I think that’s where we started playing well as a team in the second half.”
Nduli and Mbule, who both joined Pirates on free transfers after their contracts ended at Mamelodi Sundowns and Stellenbosch, respectively, played alongside Patrick Maswanganyi in midfield and dominated the first half with great passes and creating many scoring opportunities.
They gave Mohafe’s side no time to rest in the midfield, and their efforts paid off as Pirates scored two goals in the first half.
However, the Limpopo side started to play well in the second half, and their midfield improved significantly. Pirates didn’t pose much danger in the second half, and they failed to score.
The Buccaneers’ two goals came from Mohafe’s former player, Appollis, who scored the first goal, and created the penalty that Maswanganyi scored after they fouled him when he was about to score.
Mohafe said that his team made some tactical changes in the second half, including moving Relebohile Mofokeng from the flank to double down with the number 10, which helped them neutralize Pirates’ attack.
The former Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila mentor also highlighted the need to correct Mbule’s movement from midfield to defense.
“So, we just have to correct Mbule from moving from the midfield and going to the defense,” he added.
“We also moved Mofokeng from the flank to double down with the number 10, and those are the movements we needed to neutralize.”
Despite the loss, Mohafe’s side will now focus on the Betway Premiership, where they will face Magesi in a derby game on Saturday at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Rise and Shine will look to bounce back from their MTN8 Cup exit and start their league campaign on a winning note.
