Polokwane City FC assistant coach Mkhuseli Sentane has defended the decision to allow goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke to take a crucial penalty during their Carling Knockout Cup Round of 16 clash against Siwelele FC on Saturday night.
Rise and Shine suffered a heartbreaking 4–3 penalty shootout loss to Siwelele at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane following a goalless draw after extra time.
As a result, the Godfrey Mosoetsa-led side became the second team to secure passage into the quarter-finals of the Carling Knockout, joining Golden Arrows, who thrashed Chippa United 4–0 at the King Zwelithini Stadium on the same day.
During the tense shootout, Siwelele shot-stopper Jody February produced two crucial saves—including denying Masuluke’s spot-kick attempt—before Thato Letshedi stepped up to convert the winning penalty.
MKHUSELI SENTANE JUSTIFIES MASULUKE PENALTY DECISION
Addressing the decision after the match, Sentane insisted that appointing Masuluke to take the penalty was not random but the result of deliberate preparation.
“Well, it’s not just an overnight thing. You see, we practice those things [how to take penalties]. We have been practicing, and he has been kicking good penalties. So, we cannot change it now. He [Oscarine Masuluke] was one of the players we assigned to do the business for us. But unfortunately, it was saved,” said Sentane.
Sentane emphasised team unity and stressed that blame should not be placed on individual players following a loss.
“However, we win as a team, and we lose as a team. I cannot fault him because there’s no player who can go in there and choose to miss the penalty. So, if he could have scored, we would be celebrating. We have to understand that.
“Now, we have to go back to the drawing board and also try to motivate them to say they must pull their heads up and focus on the next game,” Sentane concluded.
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