DStv Premiership returnees Polokwane City have enjoyed a remarkable season, thanks to several outstanding players. They have a chance to secure a top-eight finish, potentially knocking Kaizer Chiefs out of contention.
Rise ‘n Shine is in ninth place, having amassed the same number of points as eighth-placed Chiefs. Interestingly, the two clubs meet in the penultimate league encounter at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
The victor of this match will move a step closer to qualifying for the MTN8 competition, a precursor tournament to next season.
FARPost looks at five players who have been pivotal in Polokwane City’s run this season.
THABANG MATULUDI
Without a doubt, one of the best right-backs in the DStv Premiership. No wonder he has caught the interest of European suitors and Stellenbosch FC. The 25-year-old, a quick and tactically astute right-back, has become the heart and soul of the team. His tireless runs up and down the flank, combined with his ability to read the game, have made him an invaluable asset. His lengthy contract is a testament to his importance to the club, and it’s no surprise that overseas clubs have come knocking.
OSWIN APPOLLIS
Appollis, a fleet-footed winger with a knack for taking on defenders, has been the team’s primary attacking threat. His pace and dribbling skills have terrorised opposing defences, and his ability to find the back of the net has earned him a place in Hugo Broos’s Bafana Bafana squad. Appollis was at AFCON with Bafana, thanks to his displays for Polokwane City. With 26 starts [all competitions] under his belt, the 22-year-old has scored six goals and assisted five times.
BULELANI NIKANI AND LEBOHANG NKAKI
The team’s defensive solidity has been another key factor in their resurgence. While not always perfectly coordinated, Bulelani Nikani and his partner Lebohang Nkaki have formed a formidable centre-back pairing. Their ability to win tackles, intercept passes, and distribute the ball from the back has been crucial to the team’s success in conceding fewer goals. They have conceded 27 goals in 28 games. The 31-year-old defender, Nikani, started and captained the club in 29 matches, missing two due to injury. He was yellow-carded twice throughout the season. Nkaki, on the other hand, has started every game for City this season, adding a goal and an assist.
MANUEL SAPUNGA: THE SAFE HANDS
Goalkeeper Manuel Sapunga, well-protected by his defence, has also been a revelation. His 10 clean sheets in 19 outings and the remarkable average of one goal conceded every two games earned him a place in his national team. At the start of the year, he represented Equatorial Guinea at the AFCON in Ivory Coast.
His clean sheets record puts him third in the league behind Mamelodi Sundowns’ Ronwen Williams and Sage Stephens of Stellenbosch FC. Notably, Sundowns are champions while Stellies are second, and the two teams have conceded the least number of goals in the league [9 and 21, respectively].
Despite his remarkable achievement, the 32-year-old is dissatisfied with his performance. He aimed for 15 clean sheets this season but faced setbacks due to a work permit issue and an ankle injury. He believes he could have reached his goal if he had played all 30 games.
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