Sekhukhune United reject talk of pressure after MTN8 exit

Sekhukhune United assistant coach Paulus Masehe has dismissed suggestions that the club’s technical team was under a mandate to win the MTN8 this season, insisting it is too early to assess the campaign as a failure.

Masehe addressed the media after Sekhukhune’s latest defeat by Orlando Pirates, standing in for head coach Cedric Kaze. Kaze is currently serving a suspension after receiving a red card during the mid-week league loss to the Buccaneers.

The result completed a run of three successive defeats against Orlando Pirates. Sekhukhune were beaten 1-0 and 3-0 in the two-legged MTN8 semi-final, with a 2-0 league defeat coming between those two matches.

The sequence has led to speculation that changes could already be considered within Sekhukhune’s technical team, following what has been viewed as an indifferent beginning to the season. Masehe, however, believes such discussions are premature and says the club must remain focused on the work ahead.

“It’s still early in the league to think about setbacks and mandates – and of course, being in the semi-final of the MTN8, you would want to then give yourself to get into the final, but it wasn’t to be,” Masehe said.

He rejected the idea that the team had been placed under direct pressure to deliver the cup, while also pointing to the number of league matches still to come.

“There was no pressure whatsoever about us wining this cup and also in the league we understand there’s a whole lot of games to be played, it’s a long marathon.”

Sekhukhune, known as Babina Noko, now have to recover from their disappointing run against Orlando Pirates and turn their attention back to the league. Their next fixtures are against TS Galaxy, Stellenbosch and Richards Bay.

Those matches will take place before the next FIFA International break, which will make way for the opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers.

Masehe warned that allowing the recent results to create panic could undermine the progress made by the club so far. Rather than focusing on the possibility of widespread damage, he called for composure as Sekhukhune attempt to rebuild momentum.

“If we now lose our heads to start thinking there’s a whole lot of damage here and there, then we will end up losing all that we have worked hard for up until this time.”

Sekhukhune’s MTN8 campaign ended in the semi-finals, meaning the club could not secure a place in the final. Masehe said the team had wanted to advance but maintained that the outcome should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that the technical staff had failed to meet an imposed target.

The immediate challenge is now to make progress in the league, beginning with the upcoming sequence of matches against TS Galaxy, Stellenbosch and Richards Bay before the international interruption.

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