Sentane defends Masuluke penalty call after Polokwane City cup exit

Polokwane City assistant coach Sheppard Sentane has explained why goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke was among the players chosen to take a penalty in Saturday’s Carling Knockout Cup shootout defeat to Siwelele FC, according to iDiski Times.

The last 16 tie at the old Peter Mokaba Stadium produced no goals in regulation time and went into extra time. Siwelele, who were down to ten men, still managed to drag the contest to penalties. There, goalkeeper Jody February saved two of City’s kicks, one of them Masuluke’s, and City were knocked out.

A planned selection, not a gamble

Sentane was in charge of the match because head coach Willy Moloto was absent. He said that Masuluke’s place in the line-up was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. The team had practised penalties, and the former Stellenbosch goalkeeper had been taking them well in training.

“It’s not just an overnight thing,” Sentane said. He explained that Masuluke was one of the players the technical team had assigned to take a kick, and that the plan was therefore not changed. “Unfortunately, he missed,” the assistant coach added.

Sentane made it clear that he would not pin the elimination on the goalkeeper. “We win as a team we lose as a team,” he said. He pointed out that no player walks up to the spot intending to miss, and that had Masuluke scored, the team might have been celebrating instead.

Looking ahead to the next match

With the cup run over, Sentane said the squad must now go back to the drawing board. He said the coaching staff would also try to lift the players’ spirits, telling them to keep their heads up and turn their attention to the next game.

The source does not say when City’s next fixture is or give any further detail on Moloto’s absence, so those details remain to be confirmed by the club.

This story is based on reporting by iDiski Times.