Rise and Shine reach new heights
Slovakian pumps up Polokwane
Polokwane City appear to have made the right call in appointing mentor Jozef Vukusic. The Limpopo side wasn’t expected to live up to their nickname – Rise and Shine – after roping in the little-known Slovakian on a four-year contract. Vukusic arrived in June to take over from Bernard Molekwa, who could only manage a 12th position last term.
But City are now placed 4th behind BidVest Wits and Orlando Pirates with five wins from nine matches, including a 1-0 triumph over Maritzburg United at the old Peter Mokaba Stadium at the weekend. Edgar Manaka scored the all-important winner, much to Vukusic’s delight about the progress his team is making. “It was an important game, but tough for us,” said Vukusic, whose side also beat Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 this month.
City have been defensively sound under the tutelage of the holder of the Uefa Pro Licence, the highest coaching qualification in the world.
They have five clean sheets in nine Absa Premiership matches and have conceded just five goals.
“We play to our potential. We are not the biggest team but the results are coming,” Vukusic insisted. City have a week to prepare for their next encounter and it doesn’t come bigger than Orlando Pirates, who have just beaten rivals Kaizer Chiefs.
They host the Pirates at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on November 6 and Vukusic is relishing the challenge. “Nothing is easy. “Pirates are the favourites for that game but I don’t think they are happy to come here now,” he said.