Playing home games away hurts preparation and team dynamics – Godfrey Mosoetsa

Speaking after their 3-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns, in a Betway Premiership game played at Loftus Stadium in Pretoria last night, Mosoetsa says a lot of time is lost in preparation because of this. Siwelele, who have lost four of their opening six matches and are yet to win this season, next host Golden Arrows in Bloemfontein on Sunday. As they are based in Gauteng, Mosoetsa says they become just like another visiting team, bar the support on the stands.

"Yes, I think South African football, the sooner we take home games as home games, because there's this movement all over the country where teams are playing here and there, there's no home and away, so players must understand what a home game is, in as much as you are not being negatively arrogant or hostile, but at least the team that is coming to Bloemfontein must know that we are playing away," said Mosoetsa

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"So sometimes it's all over the place and people like, you are a team that is at home but away from home, so it makes a lot of this, those are the small things that I think need to be improved in terms of saying let the home game be a home game because there's a lot of teams being all over the place."

"We understand this but because we now go into Bloemfontein as well as Golden Arrows, so which is something that makes a lot of difference because we have played today and then we are on the road again, so but it being home game and knowing the supporters of Siwelele, it will be a full house and we have to make sure that Golden Arrows feels that they are away from home."

Due to various factors, there are more than five teams that face these kinds of challenges in the PSL’s Premier Division. Sekhukhune United are based in Johannesburg and travel to Limpopo for their home matches, it’s a similar story for TS Galaxy, who are based in Johannesburg as well but play their home matches in Mpumalanga. Owing to stadium availability, two teams from Richards Bay, Milford FC and Richards Bay FC are forced to travel close to 200 kms to Durban to play their home games. Mosoetsa says the choice of the venue affects the technical team’s preparations.

Reflecting on their loss to Sundowns, Mosoetsa says the quick turnaround between this game and their 3-2 loss to Kaizer Chiefs this past weekend also made it difficult for them, especially against a formidable opponent like Sundowns.

Mosoetsa also handed a top-flight debut to former Real Natives FC goalkeeper Wandile Mthombeni yesterday, and despite conceding three goals, he showed that he’s got a lot to offer. He shares why this was the right time to hand the 26-year-old his debut.