Defenders’ dreams dashed in Motsepe play-offs

LIMPOPO – Mpheni Defenders entered the ABC Motsepe League Promotional play-offs with high hopes for promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship League but returned empty-handed.

The annual event was held at the Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium in Upington, Northern Cape, with the final taking place on Sunday.

Defenders, also known as ‘Upthe Bulls’, were placed in the same group as Jampela FC and FN Rangers. Their campaign started with a 2-2 draw against Jampela FC on June 18.

However, their promotion aspirations were dashed the following day when they suffered a 4-1 defeat against FN Rangers.

This loss placed Defenders at the bottom of their group, ending their play-off campaign.

Head coach Vhutshilo Phuravhathu cited several reasons for the team’s poor performance. He highlighted the players’ lack of composure in front of the goal box, which led to numerous missed scoring opportunities in both matches.

“The boys started to panic towards the end of the game after failing to convert their chances and lost concentration in the dying minutes against Jampela, conceding two silly goals,” he explained.

Phuravhathu also noted that similar mistakes were made in the second game against FN Rangers.

He pointed out that the team’s morale could have been boosted if they had converted a penalty awarded in the opening minutes of the game.

Reflecting on the experience, Phuravhathu emphasised that the team had learned valuable lessons and would return to the drawing board to prepare for the new season.

This was not the first time Defenders participated in the promotional play-offs. They represented Limpopo in last year’s event in Pietermaritzburg, where they failed to score a single goal.

The team’s journey in the play-offs serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that lie ahead.

Despite the setback, Defenders remain determined to regroup and come back stronger for the next season.