Sekhukhune United head coach Brandon Truter has hinted that he could walk away from the club if they don't get a result against newly-promoted Polokwane City at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday.
Kick-off is at 3.30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
Babina Noko suffered their fourth defeat of the season after Brandon Theron's 29th-minute goal handed Golden Arrows a 1-0 victory at the same venue on Thursday night.
It was their second loss on the spin in the DStv Premiership, with Truter's side having squandered the lead against Kaizer Chiefs at the Moses Mabhida Stadium last Friday to be beaten 2-1.
Truter lamented their numerous missed chances against Abafana Bes'thende and suggested he might be the root of the problem at Sekhukhune as he's not radiating much positive energy at the moment.
"As a coach, you always have to have all the answers and you have to have faith and instill belief in the team and in players, but at the same time you're never short of being criticised, you are never short of being told what to do," he said.
"You are never short also of people telling you what you're doing wrong but at the end of the day, you have to face the music with mistakes like that in the last third. I thought our approach play, an our build-up play was good until the last third.
"But if the ball don't want to fall for you right if you have a 3 v 1 with the goalkeeper and still misses and so many chances, the opponent have one shot on target and a goal, then maybe your problem is not on the field.
"That's what I'm thinking at the moment. I'm really considering my future because we need a conducive environment for the team to grow. At this moment, I'm not the happiest and I'm a bit emotionally charged."
ON THE UP
Rise And Shine are on the up after a 1-0 triumph over Richards Bay on Wednesday, extending their unbeaten run in the league to three matches.
A 0-0 draw with AmaZulu last Monday arrested a two-game losing sequence and Lehlohonolo Seema's side returned to winning ways when they edged Royal AM 1-0 at the weekend.
A fourth victory of the campaign lifted the Limpopo outfit up to fifth in the standings, three points outside the Caf places, although there have been rumours of discontent in the coaching staff.
Duncan Lechesa was absent from the dugout at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium in midweek, with reports indicating that he has left the 2022-23 Motsepe Foundation Championship winners.
However, Seema poured cold water on the speculation by revealing that Lechesa didn't travel because he wasn't feeling well.
"Coach Duncan has gone to see a doctor, he's gone for a check-up but he's still there with us," the Lesotho tactician said after the clash in Durban. "He just went to see the doctor, he didn't make it to this trip."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sekhukhune United
Chibuike Ohizu: The 27-year-old Nigerian striker made a promising start to the season, scoring a goal in three successive games against Cape Town Spurs, Moroka Swallows and Cape Town City, but he hasn't found the back of the net in his last four appearances. Ohizu had chances to get on the scoresheet against the Natal Rich Boyz, only to be denied by a goal-saving tackle from Gladwin Shitolo before forcing a fine save out of Ismail Watenga late on.
Polokwane City
Manuel Sapunga: The 31-year-old goalkeeper from Equatorial Guinea had an outstanding game against Richards Bay in what was only his third start of the campaign. Rise And Shine were under the cosh despite the hosts being reduced to 10 men early on and Sapunga pulled off a string of fine saves to keep his third consecutive clean sheet.