Polokwane City mentor warns of tougher Betway Premiership battle

Rise and Shine finished seventh last season under then-coach Phuti Mohafe, earning praise for their consistency in the topflight.

City have made a tepid start to the new campaign, collecting five points from their opening four league matches and Moloto acknowledges the standard is rising across the division and expects the battle for points to become even tougher. 

"You should check the league has improved a lot, they are no longer a small team, they are no longer a newcomer, it's all about how you apply the game and the tactical approach when you go to the game,” Moloto said.

“You see Milford, they have confidence in the ball and it doesn't start now. It started in the NFD, they have good players where by they can run the whole day. So, teams like this if you can get a point from them, even though we are supposed to get maximum points, take the points and work on the other games and be happy."

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Moloto was far from disappointed with the goalless draw at home against Milford on Wednesday night, insisting that the gap at the summit could still be reduced. 

"You must remember in this league if you have one point you must be grateful because if you start from zero, you'll find yourself in there. Now if we go and get another three points, you are on eight points, we are still up there because the difference between us and number one is only five points, I don't know about the other result but I'll take one point and build it from there."

The coach added that their result with Milford was also due to individual mistakes.

"I think we've done well in terms of training even though we had a purchase of good performances in the first half and second half we were much better. I think we worked more in terms of defense, especially set place and closing gaps in the open play in the first half and second half. I think Tidimalo [Molokwane] needs to wake up,” the coach added.

“We should just wrap up the game in two occasions but he was so complacent in the box, so it's something that I think I should correct him and work around it."