Polokwane City boss Moloto targets MTN8 glory after return

Polokwane City head coach Willy Moloto says the club’s wait for a domestic trophy has gone on long enough as they begin their MTN8 campaign against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.

The two sides will meet at Lucas Moripe Stadium at 18:00 in a quarter-final, with Polokwane City looking to make a stronger start to the new season after finishing seventh last term.

Moloto began his second spell in charge of the first team with a 2-1 away victory over Richards Bay last week. Sundowns, meanwhile, have yet to start their campaign after their opening fixture against Marumo Gallants was postponed.

The match provides Polokwane City with an early opportunity to challenge for silverware, something Moloto believes is now overdue for the Limpopo club.

The side reached the MTN8 quarter-finals last season but were beaten 2-0 by Orlando Pirates, who went on to win the competition. They suffered the same outcome in the previous season, when Mamelodi Sundowns eliminated them at the same stage.

Moloto, who previously worked as a development coach at Polokwane City and as an assistant coach at Tuks, said his return was motivated by the prospect of helping the club compete for trophies.

“Yeah, we’re going to challenge for the Cup,” Moloto told iDiski Times.

“It’s every team’s wish to challenge for a Cup. I think it’s long overdue for Polokwane City to lift a trophy.

“As you can remember, the time that I was with them, we nearly won the DDC, but we missed it by an inch.

“So now maybe it’s a blessing in disguise to come back so that I could bring something back home.”

The coach’s first match since taking charge again ended in an important away win at Richards Bay, giving Polokwane City an immediate positive result before their cup test against Sundowns.

Their recent MTN8 history means the club will be seeking to go further than the quarter-finals this time. Defeats by Orlando Pirates and Sundowns in consecutive seasons have prevented them from progressing, but victory at Lucas Moripe Stadium would move them into the next round.

For Sundowns, the postponed fixture with Marumo Gallants means their meeting with Polokwane City will be their first match of the campaign. City therefore arrive with a competitive match already behind them, although Moloto’s focus remains on ensuring his team challenge for the trophy rather than on the contrasting starts.

The weekend fixture will also mark an early test of Moloto’s ambition for the club. Having previously come close to winning the DDC during his earlier time with Polokwane City, he now hopes his return can help deliver silverware to the first team.