Polokwane City FC coach Phuti Mohafe has drawn a firm line in the sand, telling defender Thabang Matuludi about where his priorities should lie between club football and the national team.
The 26-year-old right-back has turned himself into a key player at Rise and Shine while at the same time raising his hand to be at the 2025 AFCON and 2026 FIFA World Cup with Bafana Bafana.
He was part of the South Africa squad for the final World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda. Following in the footsteps of his former Polokwane City teammate Oswin Appollis, who is making waves for both club and country after a switch to Orlando Pirates, Matuludi has been tipped to become a big achiever.
He was linked with the Buccaneers and Kaizer Chiefs, but no move materialised during the last transfer window. Both the Soweto giants appear to have enough material at right-back, with Pirates boasting of Thabiso Lebitso and Deano van Rooyen as the big names in that role.
Amakhosi have Thabiso Monyane, Dillan Solomons and Reeve Frosler on the right side of defence.
But with Matuludi rapidly improving, Mohafe has reminded him to prove his worth at the home that made him before chasing Bafana glory.
MOHAFE BOLD ON WHAT MATULUDI SHOULD PRIORITISE
“He is a very humble boy. I’m talking sense into his mind just to remind him that he is still a Polokwane City player,” said Mohafe. “He is still contracted to us, and he has to first give the performance that made him selected for the national team by playing or giving better performances in our team.
“I think he is very honest, he is very humble, and with the performances that he is giving, he should continue to be there.
“Playing for the national team doesn’t mean that his bread is buttered in the national team. You need to know where you come from, and that is where his bread is buttered, it’s Polokwane City.
“For him to be in the national team, it’s Polokwane City. For him to continue being in the national team, he must give us good performances at Polokwane City.
“So, that is why I’m saying he has to play for Polokwane City before he can think about anything else. National team second, Polokwaner City, first.”
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