Last man standing
Phoko has emerged a key player in Jwaneng Galaxy’s successful run in the CAF champions qualifier matches, so far.
Jwaneng Galaxy goalkeeper, Goitseone Phoko’s performance was crucial in his team’s qualification for the group stages of the CAF Champions League qualifier matches. His composure and technical execution under pressure were truly remarkable. In the nail- biting penalty shootout between Jwaneng Galaxy and Pirates CAF Champions league second leg match in South Africa last week, Phoko’s penalty save proved to be the deciding factor in his team’s qualification. With limited time to prepare for the CAF Champions League qualifier matches, Phoko gives credit to his goalkeeping coach and team’s technical team as well as his team mates for the immense support and guidance they provided through out. He is rightly proud of his role in his team’s qualification. The road to qualification was a tough one for Phoko, faced a variety of challenges along the way. In the first match against Vipers SC, he kept a clean sheet and helped his team to a victory. However, the return leg in Uganda proved more difficult, and he conceded two goals. But he persevered, and when his team faced Pirates in the second round of qualifiers, he kept a clean sheet in the first leg and saved a penalty in the second leg, despite conceding a goal. “I want to express my gratitude to the Jwaneng Galaxy family for their support and belief in my abilities. I feel so grateful for the opportunity to represent the team. I also want to thank my technical team and my teammates for their assistance throughout the qualification process. Every match was crucial, and the team did a great job of working together and giving me the support I needed to perform at my best,” he said. Against Pirates, on the return leg match, his technical execution and mental strength were truly exceptional as Pirates were attacking more, hunting for a goal that could bring them to the game. He demonstrated immense composure under pressure, which enabled him to make crucial saves that ultimately secured his team’s victory. “I knew that penalties were a strong possibility, so I put a lot of time and effort into practicing with my teammates. I wanted to be at my best for these crucial moments, and I’m so glad that my hard work paid off. I’m grateful to my teammates for helping me prepare, and I’m proud of what we accomplished together,” Phoko stated. According to Phoko, his goalkeeping coach provided a great deal of support and motivation, both before and during the games. The coach’s advice and encouragement were instrumental in helping him to perform at his best, even under pressure, to even stay calm and focused when it mattered most. “Looking back on my past experiences, I know that playing against foreign teams was always a challenge. It was never easy, but I
always tried to be at my very best, and I’m glad to say that I was able to improve my game in the process. I’m proud of the progress I’ve made and the growth that I’ve shown,” Phoko noted. “For young goalkeepers out there, I would offer the following advice: train hard, stay focused, and
maintain your discipline. If you put in the work and stay committed to your goals, you’ll be able to accomplish great things. Discipline and focus are key to success, so never lose sight of your dreams. If you keep pushing forward, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve,” he added.