Mohafe under pressure as Marumo Gallants wait for first league win

Marumo Gallants coach Phuti Mohafe remains under increasing pressure after his side extended their winless start to the Betway Premiership season with a 2-2 draw against Polokwane City on Friday.

The result ended a run of three successive defeats but did little to settle questions over Mohafe’s position. Gallants have taken only two points from their opening five league matches and are still waiting for their first victory of the campaign.

Friday’s match was particularly significant for Mohafe, who left Polokwane City at the end of last season after impressing during his time with the Limpopo-based club. He returned to face his former side as Gallants attempted to recover from a difficult opening to the season.

Bahlabane Ba Ntwa began their campaign with a goalless draw against Kruger United. They then lost to Stellenbosch FC, TS Galaxy and Mamelodi Sundowns before claiming a point against Polokwane City.

While the draw provided some relief by stopping the losing sequence, it was not enough to remove the uncertainty surrounding Mohafe. Reports have already linked possible coaching candidates with the Gallants post, with the team’s failure to win placing renewed focus on the former Rise and Shine coach.

Despite the speculation, there was no indication of an immediate change to the club’s technical team on Tuesday.

A source close to Gallants said the players had returned to training and that Mohafe remained involved with the squad. The source also suggested that, for now, the situation at the club was unchanged.

“The team has just finished training, the morning session, and the coach is currently addressing the players as we speak,” a source close to the club told KickOff.com.

“So far, everything remains the same. But in football, you never know. But that is only what I know so far.”

Mohafe’s move to Gallants followed a successful spell at Polokwane City, where his work had attracted positive attention. His start at his new club, however, has been considerably more challenging, with Gallants sitting on two points and still searching for a first win.

The pressure is unlikely to ease while other coaches continue to be associated with the vacancy. Gallants must now decide whether to retain Mohafe and give him more time to change the team’s fortunes or make an early adjustment to their technical set-up.

For the moment, sources indicate that Mohafe’s future remains uncertain rather than immediately decided. He continues to lead the team, but the club’s difficult start means his position is at risk as Gallants consider how best to respond to their results.