Marumo Gallants’ poor run of results continued on Friday as their winless season was extended to four matches with a 2-2 home draw against Polokwane City, but new coach Phuti Mohafe believes he can turn around their form.
Gallants, who narrowly escaped relegation last season, have won one of their last 28 matches, stretching back 11 months, and find themselves second from bottom in the new campaign with two points.
“I think we gave a good account of ourselves. We showed a big character by coming from twice falling behind,” said Mohafe, whose side were behind after three minutes but had pulled it back to 2-2 by halftime amid rainy conditions at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace.
“A positive point was we scored two goals in consecutive matches, while in the last season the team only once in the whole season scored two goals in a match.
“So that’s a plus for us, but we also need to defend better. We cannot be scoring but not be able to defend. So I think we should go back to the drawing board and do more of defensive structures and organisations,” he said.
Mohafe was up against the team he had coached over 97 matches in the three previous seasons but left to join Gallants.
“Planning against them wasn’t that easy even though I know them well. They play with the transitions; they play those long balls behind the defence. They also come in from the flanks.
“It's a continuity of what I was doing with the team, and I think the new coach (Willy Moloto) now is perfecting that.
“With Gallants, I'm still trying to build the legacy that I left at Polokwane. But I think we are getting there,” he added.