Sekhukhune United is looking to finish comfortably inside the top eight brackets this coming season. This is the mandate given to newly appointed head coach, Kaitano Tembo and his assistants. The team started well last season, only to lose steam towards the end of the season which saw them finish in 11th place in their debut season in the DSTV Premiership.
After spending more than 20 years at SuperSport United as a player and later as a coach, Kaitano Tembo is in a completely new environment.
Sekhukhune United were amongst the early pace setters in the DSTV Premiership last season. The aim was to survive relegation and remain in South Africa’s top flight football after their maiden season. Now the mandate has changed completely for the new coach and the players.
“We started very well this season in terms of preparations and I think the team is ready. We have assembled a very good team. We want to see ourselves finishing in the top eight position, that’s the mandate in fact from our chairman and the CEO, the Malatjie brothers. And I think that we’ve got the capacity to deliver on that mandate,” says Phineas Madisha, Sekhukhune United football manager.
Like most of the teams in South Africa, Sekhukhune are a completely new look side this season. They released 14 players and signed a total of 16 new players. The team has 33 registered players on their books for the new season.
“Look it is achievable because if I look back, I think last season we were probably seven points just below the top eight so the challenge is to try and bridge that gap but we need to take it one game at a time, that’s very important and we have a team that will be able to achieve that. That’s key as well. I’m happy with what I have at the moment, a balanced team,” says Tembo.
Bafana Bafana forward, Victor Letsoalo is one of the new signings for Sekhukhune. The team has also recruited former Orlando Pirates players, Linda Mntambo and Tshegofatso Mabasa as well as Daniel Cardoso from Kaizer Chiefs.
“I was happy, I didn’t have problems with Royal AM because I was always playing but other than that it was more than just playing because I have reached my targets there. I’m one person who always sets targets and I had reached my targets there and I needed a move. I’m glad I came to Sekhukhune because they are from home so I was very humbled that they came and they got my services,” says Letsoalo.
Defence stalwart, Edwin Gyimah is expected to continue his good form. Sekhukhune had the third best defensive record, having conceded just 24 goals.
“You know this season, we really want to fight, we really want compete in cup games, we really want to be on top because now the way the team is growing from last season to now, everything is moving very fast. With the players I think each and every player has his own thing. I feel if we stay up there, we stand a chance to compete in all these cups,” says Gyimah.
The club has relocated to Polokwane and will now use the new Peter Mokaba Stadium as their home venue. Babina Noko will open their 2022/23 season with an away match against Maritzburg United on Saturday evening.
VIDEO: Sekhukhune United looking to finish in the top eight brackets this coming season
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