JOHANNESBURG - Polokwane City’s team manager-turned interim coach, Bernard Molekwa, finished the goalless draw with Mamelodi Sundowns on Tuesday without his voice from the shouting and beads of sweat from frantically dishing out instructions.
Molekwa couldn’t hide his emotions at having held the reigning African champions in their own backyard at Loftus Versfeld.
Going into the match, it looked like Sundowns would wipe the floor with Rise and Shine after their coach Luc Eymael’s resignation.
The Brazilians were looking to kick-start their league campaign having failed to win or score in their last two league matches. But Polokwane had other ideas, doing enough to return with a huge point and stretch Sundowns’ run without a win and a goal to three matches.
“I lost my voice because I was trying to motivate my players all the time,” Molekwa said. “I needed to do that because at times they lost focus. I needed to constantly encourage them because Sundowns are a very strong team. I had to motivate them by giving them instructions here and there.”
The point Rise and Shine took from Sundowns pushed them to sixth place. Molekwa is confident that he can help the club finish in the top eight.
“The chairman gave me the task to lead the team until the end of the season,” Molekwa said. “That’s what I am doing. I told the players that I don’t know why the coach resigned. It is a situation that was beyond our control. But we had a job to do.
“They had to focus and make sure that they play the match. We had to make sure that we pull in the same direction and we are one. We have received good support from the chairman. A top eight finish is a realistic target.”