Phuti Mohafe admits to lacklustre performance after 3-1 thumping

Gallants were on the wrong end of a comprehensive 3-1 defeat at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, where 20-year-old Quwan Plaatjies scored a hat-trick inside an hour on debut for the home team. 

Mohafe called their performance ‘uncalled for’, and apologised to the club’s supporters and management.

"First and foremost I'd like to apologise to Marumo Gallants and our supporters for this heavy defeat. The way we lost it was so uncalled for after we gave away two easy goals against the run of play. This performance did not meet our standards."

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Two of the goals they conceded arrived in the first half, which Mohafe believes was disastrous from his side. He says they only showed signs of recovery in the second half after veterans Edgar Manaka and Monde Mpambaniso were introduced into the game. 

Marumo did grab a consolation inside the last 10 minutes from Thapelo Dhludhlu.

Mohafe, who was standing in his second game for Marumo, showered club captain Manaka with praise for the influence he had on the match, and confirmed that his contribution earned him a start in their next game against Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday.

"When you revisit the game and you do your analysis, you'll see all of the good things he did in the match, and for that you have to reward him with a start in the next game."