Puthi Mohafe under pressure as Marumo Gallants face former club Polokwane City

Marumo Gallants coach Puthi Mohafe is under growing pressure as his struggling side prepares to face his former club, Polokwane City, in the Betway Premiership on Friday.

Gallants are still searching for their first win of the new season after taking only one point from their opening four matches. That solitary point came in a goalless draw against league newcomers Kruger United.

Since then, Bahlabane Ba Ntwa have been beaten by Stellenbosch FC, TS Galaxy and African champions Mamelodi Sundowns. The run has left Mohafe with little margin for error as he attempts to revive his team’s fortunes.

Friday’s meeting will be played at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg and carries added significance because Polokwane City are Mohafe’s former employers.

Mohafe left Rise and Shine at the end of the 2025/26 season after an impressive spell in charge. He subsequently chose to take up a new challenge with Gallants, but only a few months later his former club is now standing between him and a result that could prove important for his future.

There is no current indication that Mohafe will be dismissed if Gallants lose, although the pressure on the coach is understood to be increasing as the club looks for a change in momentum.

“The issue is that the management trust coach Phuti and they are backing him, but the lack of results makes things difficult now,” a source close to the situation toldKickOff.com.

“I am told that this game against Polokwane can change things in terms of his future. It’s a fact and a must that he wins the match.

“They are not saying they will fire him if he loses, but it may affect his future at the club, although the management have all their backing for him.”

Gallants’ management are said to remain supportive of Mohafe, but their poor start has made the need for points increasingly urgent.

A victory against Polokwane City would provide some relief and give Mohafe an opportunity to begin rebuilding confidence in his squad. Another defeat, however, would intensify scrutiny of his position and raise further questions about whether he will remain in charge.

The fixture also represents a difficult test for a Gallants team that has struggled to convert its efforts into results during the opening weeks of the campaign. Their only positive result so far came against Kruger United, while the defeats by Stellenbosch FC, TS Galaxy and Mamelodi Sundowns have left them near the wrong end of the early-season standings.

For Mohafe, the match is both a battle to secure Gallants’ first league win and an encounter with the club where he established his reputation before moving on.

Marumo Gallants’ match against Polokwane City is scheduled to kick off at 19:30 on Friday.