Polokwane out to close gap on Pirates with Sekhukhune win

Polokwane City will be determined to close the gap on the Betway Premiership's top two teams when they host Sekhukhune United at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday.

Kick-off is at 3:30 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

Rise and Shine stretched their unbeaten run to four matches when they drew 0-0 with Lamontville Golden Arrows away on 28 December and prior to the match, they had won two games in a row.

Polokwane are occupying the third spot in the Betway Premiership standings six points behind second-placed Orlando Pirates. A win over Sekhukhune would see Rise and Shine edge closer to Pirates who will be in CAF Champions League action this weekend.

Sekhukhune, on the other hand, are undefeated in their last two matches after securing a 1-0 victory over Marumo Gallants at home on 28 December and it was their second successive win.

Babina Noko are placed fifth in the Betway Premiership standings - level on points with fourth-placed Stellenbosch FC. A win over Polokwane would see Sekhukhune climb into the top four as Stellenbosch will be in CAF Confederation Cup action this weekend.

TEAM NEWS

Both teams have no suspension concerns coming into this Limpopo Derby encounter, but Polokwane City are likely to be without Hlayisi Chauke who has missed the team's last two matches due to injury.

Mokete Mogaila will be missing as the Sekhukhune United winger has been sidelined since he was involved in a fatal car accident in October 2024.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Polokwane City head coach Phuti Mohafe

"It doesn't matter how you get them, you get them from small teams, you get it from the so-called big teams, it's still the same," Mohafe said

"So going into the top three it presently cements our top eight spot. We just need to continue working."

Sekhukhune United head coach Lehlohonolo Seema

“In January there’s a lot of games for us, a lot of travelling, maybe after January you can ask that type of question of our ambitions, when we can see where we are then,” Seema said.

“At the moment it’s still long away, we haven’t even played ten league games, it’s too early to speak about the rest of the season.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mokibelo Ramabu, Polokwane City: Rise and Shine will pin their hopes of defeating Sekhukhune United on the 27-year-old winger who scored in two of the team's last three matches as they secured back-to-back victories.

Keletso Makgalwa, Sekhukhune United: The diminutive attacker will pose a threat to Polokwane City's defence having scored winning goals in Babina Noko's last two matches as they overcame Cape Town City and Marumo Gallants.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS (PSL only)

Season Result Scorers

2023/24 Sekhukhune 0-0 Polokwane

2023/24 Polokwane 0-0 Sekhukhune

LEAGUE RECORD (since 2023/24)

Home

P W D L GF GA

Polokwane 1 0 1 0 0 0

Sekhukhune 1 0 1 0 0 0

Away

P W D L GF GA

Polokwane 1 0 1 0 0 0

Sekhukhune 1 0 1 0 0 0

Total

P W D L GF GA

Polokwane 2 0 2 0 0 0

Sekhukhune 2 0 2 0 0 0