Nikani backs Polokwane City to revive season with Carling Knockout victory

Polokwane City captain Bulelani Nikani says the club’s difficult start can be transformed by a win over Siwelele in Saturday’s Carling Knockout last-16 tie.

Rise and Shine host Siwelele at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium at 6pm, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

Polokwane City have won only once in eight league matches this season. That victory came in their opening fixture, when they beat Richards Bay 2-1 away from home.

They have since gone eight games without a win in all competitions, increasing the pressure on the squad ahead of their cup meeting with Siwelele.

Nikani believes success at home could restore the team’s confidence and provide the momentum they have been missing.

“We need to get our momentum, especially here at home. If we can get that one win, I think going forward it’s going to be easy for us,” he told the media.

The captain said the team needed a favourable result and felt victory this weekend would help settle the situation.

“We need that luck to win games, and if we can get this one at the weekend, I think everything will be fine,” he added.

The poor run has also frustrated the more experienced members of the squad, according to Nikani, who called for a determined performance to ensure Polokwane City remain in the competition.

“It’s frustrating us, especially senior players, as we’ve not done well. I think this weekend we must just fight hard to progress to the next round.”

Chance to respond

The fixture gives Polokwane City an immediate opportunity to respond to their latest defeat by Siwelele.

The sides met in a league match away on Sunday, when Siwelele secured a 1-0 win. Nikani said that experience had given his team a clearer understanding of the changes required for the cup encounter.

“We played them last weekend and we are playing them again now. Now we know what we need to do. So, I think we will fix our mistakes, where we did wrong, to progress to the next stage,” he said.

Although Saturday’s match is a cup tie rather than a league fixture, Nikani believes it is particularly important for Polokwane City as they attempt to reverse their fortunes.

“Even though it’s a cup game, I think we need it more. I think all the boys are going to fight to progress to the next round.”

He acknowledged the consequences of another poor performance but insisted the players were committed to securing progress.

“Definitely we are going to fight at the weekend so we can progress to the next stage. I think it is going to be hard for us if we don’t do well this weekend, but we will make sure we progress to the next stage.”