Siwelele eye momentum shift with Polokwane City showdown

SIWELELE caretaker coach Godfrey Mosoetsa wants his players to use the Carling Knockout Cup to bring back belief.

Siwelele are struggling in the Premier Soccer League, but Mosoetsa believes a good cup run could give his side the spark they badly need.

They face Polokwane City in the Carling Knockout Cup, with Rise and Shine expected to be tough to beat at home.

For Mosoetsa, the competition is not a distraction. It’s another chance for his players to fight, win and build confidence.

“This is obviously one of the things that we want to change because you cannot just focus on winning league games when we are not in a good position.

“We also need to gain momentum by making sure that we take every opportunity that comes with playing in cup competitions. If you win, you gain momentum, and that brings confidence to the players.”

Mosoetsa knows his team needs results quickly.

He believes winning in the cup could lift the mood in the dressing room and give Siwelele something to build on when they return to league action.

But he also warned that cup football comes with its own pressure.

Unlike league matches, knockout games can go beyond 90 minutes, with extra time and penalties possible if teams cannot be separated.

“Yeah, it’s a little bit different because, with a league game, you know you are playing for 90 minutes, but with a cup game, it can go up to 120 minutes.

“You are playing a Polokwane team at home, which I would always call a very stubborn team playing in their own backyard. It’s going to be a very tough game, but that does not mean the game in Bloemfontein will be easy.”

Mosoetsa expects a serious battle against a Polokwane side who are difficult to break down on their own turf.

But for Siwelele, this is also a big opportunity.

A win would keep their cup dreams alive and give them the confidence they need to start turning their season around.