Motlakase, Santos in crunch tie
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday May 26, 2017 14:55
This weekend Santos descends Palapye Swallows grounds with the slight lead that leaves the tie wide open.
The Gabane outfit startled Chouka with a last minute stunner thanks to the fresh legs of Tumelo Sentle who had come in for Bosa Mokgweetsi.
The defeat, however, is deemed rather a motivation by Chouka’s coach, Pule Mogotsi. He said the goal took off the players then, but they have recovered and are eager to overturn the deficit.
“The worst could have happened but we contained them (Santos) and we were not second fiddle,” he said. “My players were worried when we conceded late but they are ok now. “They show a lot of enthusiasm in training, they are determined to win at home and I believe in them. We have got no choice but to win.”
He said many factors including the pitch and a long ball game, which they did not expect from their opponents, affected their short passing rhythm.
Mogotsi said after facing Santos the players know what they are up against. He said they could have been threatened if the worst had happened but a goal down is not a big fuss.
“We experienced hiccups here and there because of a small pitch. Now the ball is in our court, the pitch suits us, we faced our opponents we know their style of play and we have no excuses.”
“We believe our supporters will as usual come to the party and drive us through to the premiership, that’s all the team needs.”
Santos coach, Kgosietsile ‘Parker’ Mampori believes they will walk out triumphant in Palapye tomorrow (Saturday). He said after facing Motlakase in the first leg they have realised the Palapye outfit is not as extraordinary as it was deemed.
“A lot has been said about the danger Motlakase pose, but of what I saw in the past game they are just an ordinary side,” he said. “We heard they are unbeatable at home but we don’t want to believe that. We stand a good chance of breaking them again.
“The logic is simple, Motlakase needs a goal and they will come at us and we will be looking for those pockets of openings in their defence. Otherwise the whole team is ready and we are waiting for the whistle.”