Polokwane City midfielder Manuel Kambala says the team is in the right frame of mind ahead of their Carling Knockout Cup Last 16 clash against Siwelele FC at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday.
Kambala believes Rise and Shine are well prepared for the encounter and determined to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the competition.
The midfielder acknowledged that Polokwane City are aware of the responsibility that comes with competing in a knockout tournament, where a single mistake could prove costly. He also admitted that the team has learned valuable lessons from their previous defeat against Siwelele FC and is working hard to correct the mistakes made in that match.
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According to Kambala, the players understand the quality of their opponents and have also identified areas where they can exploit their weaknesses.
“I think we are doing well. We all know our responsibility to go to the next stage and we know that we lost the last game against them because of our mistakes. So we are trying to fix those mistakes,” Kambala said.
“We also know their quality and their weaknesses, so we need to win. That is the mentality, and we are happy. As you can see, our mentality is strong, and we are all motivated.”
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Kambala’s comments underline Polokwane City’s determination to approach Saturday’s encounter with confidence and a positive mindset as they look to progress to the next round.
However, Siwelele FC will also be eager to secure victory and continue their campaign in the competition, setting the stage for a potentially competitive encounter between the two sides.
With a place in the quarter-finals at stake, Polokwane City will be hoping to make the most of their home advantage at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Kambala and his teammates will need to translate their positive mentality into a strong performance on the pitch if they are to overcome Siwelele FC and keep their Carling Knockout Cup ambitions alive.