Polokwane City’s Grueling February Schedule Takes Its Toll
Polokwane City’s travels throughout February have come with significant demands, stretching the endurance of the Limpopo-based club. The constant movement and packed fixture schedule have evidently taken a toll on the squad, impacting both performance and fitness.
City began the month on a high note, securing victory at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on February 1. However, the challenging travel schedule soon followed, putting strain on the team.
A lengthy bus trip to Mbombela on February 5 resulted in a goalless draw, after which they immediately embarked on the return journey. Following a brief recovery session the next day, the squad was back on the road, heading to Johannesburg for a four-and-a-half-hour trip before catching a flight to Durban. Unfortunately, their fixture against Richards Bay FC ended in a 2-0 defeat.
After a short three-day respite at home, the team was once again on the move, traveling to Johannesburg and flying to Cape Town, before proceeding to Stellenbosch for a Nedbank Cup clash on February 13, which they lost 2-0.
Their demanding schedule did not let up as they returned home, only to suffer a 1-0 defeat to Magesi FC five days later. They then embarked on another grueling 1450km round trip to Bloemfontein for a clash against Marumo Gallants, which ended in a goalless draw.
To cap off the month’s relentless schedule, City will face Stellenbosch FC at Danie Craven Stadium on Friday. By the time they return home to Polokwane, their total mileage for the month will be close to 11,000km.
Adding to coach Phuti Mohafe’s woes, the heavy schedule has contributed to injuries within the squad, with key players Thabang Matuludi, Tlou Nkwe, Raymond Daniels, and Cole Alexander all sidelined. With a thinning squad and fatigue setting in, the coming fixtures pose a significant challenge for Polokwane City as they look to navigate through this demanding stretch of the season.
