Polokwane City confirm Willy Moloto is on sick leave after missing Siwelele defeat

Polokwane City head coach Willy Moloto was absent from the bench because he was undergoing medical examinations and has been signed off for 10 days, the club has confirmed.

Moloto missed Saturday’s Carling Knockout Last 16 tie against Siwelele at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, where Polokwane City lost on penalties.

Assistant coach Mkhuseli Sentane took charge of the team and also represented Polokwane City in media interviews before the match.

A source at the club said Moloto attended medical examinations on 21 and 22 October, after which he was booked off from work.

“The coach is on sick leave for 10 days (from 21 October to 31 October),” the source said.

“There are obviously rumours that he resigned, but that’s just fake news. He’s still the head coach, until the club says otherwise.”

Moloto was approached for comment but declined to discuss the matter, saying it was private.

Sentane subsequently confirmed that Moloto’s doctor had advised him to rest following the defeat by Siwelele.

“We are taking precautionary measures when it comes to his health,” Sentane said.

“The doctor said he should just relax a little bit so that he can fully recover. We will wait for the doctor’s orders when he would come back… I won’t say we miss him because his spirit is always with us and always communicating with us.”

Moloto spent a week in a private hospital in Polokwane last month after collapsing during Polokwane City’s league match against AmaZulu at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

The incident happened shortly before the FIFA international break.

Since the break, Polokwane City have played Siwelele twice.