Polokwane City coach calls for consistency as Orlando Pirates come to town

Polokwane City are preparing for the visit of Orlando Pirates in the same manner they would any other game‚ claimed coach Luc Eymael on Wednesday.

City racked up back-to-back victories before the international break – winning 3-2 at home to newly promoted Highlands Park and snatching a vital 1-0 away win at Maritzburg United in their last match before the break.

Pirates‚ who are one of the four unbeaten teams so far‚ are yet to kick into second gear and they will be hoping to do so against City on Sunday.

• 'I am no magician', says Polokwane City's coach EymaelNew Polokwane City coach Luc Eymael has been mandated to win a first-ever top eight place for the club but says he cannot be considered “a magician”. 

But the Belgian coach‚ who took over from Brazilian Julio Leal in early July‚ insisted there are no special preparations for the match scheduled for Peter Mokaba Stadium and called for his team to try and stitch together some sort of consistency going forward. Kickoff is at 3pm.

“We have been training well and we are ready to face any opponent‚” said the 56-year-old as he aims to guide his team to a club-record equaling third successive victory with the scalp of Muhsin Ertugral’s charges.

“To face Pirates for me is just like any other team. For the media‚ it is a big game but for us it is just another fixture.

"You are not going to get six or nine points just because you beat Pirates. It means the game is as important as any other we will have this season‚” added Eymael‚ who holds a UEFA Pro License‚ the highest qualification in football.

"We have to be professional and look for consistency as we strive to achieve our target‚ which is to qualify the club for the Top Eight for the fist time in its history."

• Polokwane City snatch valuable point at Ajax Cape TownBoth Ajax Cape Town and Polokwane City are still without a victory in the new Premier Soccer League season as they played out a 1-1 draw at the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday in a game both could have won. 

Perennially tipped for the relegation scramble ahead of the start of each season‚ the Citizens’ had a dismal start when they failed to win their opening three league games of the season.

They were beaten 2-0 away at Cape Town City on the opening day and drew against title-contenders Bidvest Wits (0-0) at home and Ajax Cape Town away (1-1.

But successive victories over Highlands and Maritzburg have taken Polokwane to fifth place on the Absa Premiership log standings on eight points from five matches.

Pirates‚ who remain unbeaten in the League‚ are also on eight points but have played four matches.

- TMG Digital