PSL clubs’ travelling home games harming preparation, says Siwelele coach Godfrey Mosoetsa

Siwelele FC caretaker coach Godfrey Mosoetsa says Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams forced to stage home matches away from their bases lose valuable preparation time and struggle to build a genuine home advantage.

Mosoetsa was speaking after Siwelele’s 3-0 defeat by Mamelodi Sundowns in a Betway Premiership match at Loftus Stadium in Pretoria last night.

Siwelele have lost four of their opening six matches and are still without a win this season. They are due to host Golden Arrows in Bloemfontein on Sunday, despite being based in Gauteng.

That means the club effectively becomes an away side apart from the support it receives in the stands, according to Mosoetsa.

“South African football needs to take home games as home games as soon as possible,” he said. “There is this movement all over the country where teams are playing here and there, so there is no home and away.

“Players must understand what a home game is. That does not mean being negatively arrogant or hostile, but at least the team coming to Bloemfontein must know that we are playing away.”

Mosoetsa said the constant movement between provinces affected clubs in ways that were not always immediately obvious.

“Sometimes everything is all over the place and people say you are a team that is at home but away from home,” he added. “Those are the small things that need to improve. Let the home game be a home game because there are a lot of teams being all over the place.”

The coach said the short turnaround between matches made the situation even more demanding for Siwelele.

“We understand this, but we now go into Bloemfontein as well as Golden Arrows,” he said. “We played today and then we are on the road again. Having a home game and knowing the Siwelele supporters will fill the stadium makes a big difference.

“We have to make sure Golden Arrows feels that they are away from home.”

More than five teams in the PSL’s Premier Division face similar logistical difficulties for various reasons. Sekhukhune United are based in Johannesburg but play their home matches in Limpopo, while TS Galaxy are also Johannesburg-based and host games in Mpumalanga.

Stadium availability has also forced Milford FC and Richards Bay FC, both from Richards Bay, to travel nearly 200km to Durban for their home fixtures.

Mosoetsa said venue arrangements had a direct impact on the technical team’s preparation. He also cited the tight schedule after Siwelele’s 3-2 defeat by Kaizer Chiefs this past weekend, saying the quick turnaround was particularly difficult against a strong Mamelodi Sundowns side.

The caretaker coach handed former Real Natives FC goalkeeper Wandile Mthombeni his top-flight debut against Sundowns. Although the 26-year-old conceded three goals, Mthombeni showed he had plenty to offer.