Mohafe Explains Brutal Marema Sub-on, Sub-off Decision
Polokwane City coach Phuti Mohafe has explained his decision to substitute veteran forward Puleng Marema shortly after bringing him on—effectively making him a “teabag”—following a difficult outing against Mamelodi Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday.
Rise and Shine endured a frustrating afternoon, suffering a heavy 3–0 defeat. It marked their second loss to Sundowns in the space of five days, following a narrow 1–0 defeat at home earlier in the week.
However, much of the post-match discussion centred on Marema’s brief cameo and Mohafe’s firm stance on discipline and accountability.
Marema was introduced at the start of the second half in the 46th minute, but his key moment came in the 65th minute when City were awarded a penalty.
The experienced striker failed to convert, sending his effort over the crossbar. Less than 10 minutes later, in the 74th minute, Mohafe made the bold decision to substitute him.
The coach did not shy away from explaining his reasoning, stressing the importance of leadership and responsibility on the pitch.
“When you are a leader, you have to lead by example—you can’t do something like that,” said Mohafe.
“Sometimes you have to be punished, and people must understand that when you get an opportunity like that, you have to make it count.
“He was complacent, and he missed the penalty. For me, that was the best decision I could make.”
Despite the setback, Rise and Shine remain sixth in the standings with 37 points, keeping them firmly in contention for a top-eight finish.
Mohafe acknowledged the challenges ahead as the season approaches its conclusion.
“Our focus now is to consolidate our place in the top eight, especially as we are playing teams that are also fighting for those positions,” he said.
“It’s two matches in the space of three days, along with the travelling, so we need to manage that well. If we do, we can maintain our position in the top eight.
“The last match is against a team fighting for survival, so it will be another tough encounter.
“We have three very difficult matches left. As for the title contenders, that is done and dusted—we now need to focus on our own battle.”
Polokwane City’s next assignment is against Richards Bay on Wednesday at the Umhlathuze Sports Complex, a venue known to be a tough hunting ground where even top sides have struggled to secure maximum points.
