POLOKWANE City want to win the Limpopo derby against Baroka FC on Saturday in honour of their departed defender, Mogau Tshehla (26).
It’s been a difficult week for the players, technical team and supporters after they laid to rest the key member of the team last Friday. Tshehla died in a car crash.
Rise and Shine will play their first league match since the ceremony when they host bitter rivals Bakgaga at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday (3.30pm).
The players are still in mourning and the mood is at an all-time low in the camp but Jabu Maluleke, their influential skipper who has been outstanding for them this season, has urged his teammates to pick themselves up and win it for Tshehla.
Tshehla was the elder brother of Mamelodi Sundowns star Percy Tau and Dumisani Tau, who plays in the National First Division.
Maluleke said: “Everyone is not okay but for now we need to focus on the matter at hand and make sure we win the next two matches, against Baroka and Golden Arrows, to honour our fallen soldier.
“We are aware that derbies are unpredictable, they always come with pressure, flaring tempers and high emotions.”
Their opponents Baroka still have their share of problems, as they will be playing their second match without coach Kgoloko Thobejane who was suspended for allegedly drinking on duty.
The fact that their teammates, goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke, Sipho Moeti and captain Olaleng Shaku, will not feature due to the club’s disciplinary measures for their said involvement in Thobejane’s reported transgression, also weighs heavily on the minds of players.
None of them, Thobejane included, were involved in Baroka’s last game against Chippa United last Saturday.
Maluleke, who has been one of the most consistent players in the PSL as Rise and Shine captain for the past three seasons, emphasised the importance of getting maximum points. Said the 35-year-old: “We are among the relegation candidates now, which makes the match against Baroka an automatic six-pointer.
"That is not all, we will also need to fight tooth and nail to collect points against Arrows, Platinum Stars and Bidvest Wits.”
Rise and Shine will receive a timely boost with the return of Rodney Ramagalela and Rendani Ndou, who have both recovered from injury.
Maluleke added that they would need to assist Ramagalela so he could score more goals, having hit the back of the net nine times this season. “But we will not put pressure on him if things are not going our way.”
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