Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi should take notes on how to beat Mamelodi Sundowns - Phuti Mohafe opens up on game plan as Manqoba Mngqithi admits 'strong' Polokwane City were better 'on the day'

The Polokwane City coach Phuti Mohafe articulated well the strategy they used to sink Sundowns.

It was a plot that worked out well for Rise and Shine and might be adopted by teams like Nasreddine Nabi's Kaizer Chiefs who have been struggling to beat Masandawana.

“I think what we have done well today was to manage those spaces in-between the defence and the spaces between the midfield,” Mohafe told SuperSport TV.

“Whereby [Marcello] Allende and [Tashreeq] Matthews was operating, as well as the spaces that was used by [Thapelo] Morena on the side as well as the one that was used by [Asekho] Tiwani on the other side. 

“So, we managed that perfectly well. We forced them to go wide but we set the traps that when they go wide, the moment they receive the ball, they must make sure that we pounce on them.

“The things is we cannot match them in terms of possession,” Mohafe added. 

“Because we’re a team that basically go for with the defensive structure. So, we made sure that we defend well against Sundowns.  

“We block whatever that they throw at us, and we go on counterattacks. We also used the set-pieces; hence we scored from one, and that is the only way that as Polokwane City we do well against Sundowns.”

The Brazilians coach Manqoba Mngqithi feels his side were poor in the first half and that contributed to losing the match.

“No, first-half was horrible,” Mngqithi told SuperSport TV.

“Let’s be honest, our first-half we were just nowhere. In the final third, we could not make any combinations. 

“We did get into the final third several times where maybe a better decision from Tash [Tashreeq Matthews], a better decision from Iqraam [Rayners].”

Mngqithi admits Rise and shine were the stronger side while Sundowns were struggling to take their chances and it is the same old story.

“Those moments when you don’t translate them into chances, which is almost the same thing that happened in midweek," the former Chippa United coach continued. 

“On the day, it was just not to be, and we must congratulate the opponents. They fought, they were strong, and we always knew their strength on set-pieces which is why we tried to load ourselves with aerially strong players to be able to deal with that."

“But I think we caught up in a game where not many things were going right for us," Mngqithi said.

“We had almost all our best players on the day but unfortunately the result was not to be.  

“We knew it was not going to be easy. We never took it for granted because we know they are a team that always gives us a lot of trouble but unfortunately, on the day it was just not to be.”