Otladisa hopes troubled Marumo's luck changes

Marumo Gallants ace Katlego Otladisa has made it known that as players they won't allow the club's off-field issues to affect them.

From losing their coach Romain Folz to being taken to court for moving their Sunday's league game against Kaizer Chiefs from Peter Mokaba Stadium to Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, Marumo have had a troubled week. Folz resigned last Sunday, citing interference from management. Raymond Mdaka has since taken over as caretaker coach.

Polokwane municipality took Gallants to court for a breach of contract after the club decided to move their match against Kaizer Chiefs from their home venue Peter Mokaba to their secondary alternative stadia Royal Bafokeng. The Polokwane High Court will rule this morning on the matter as the municipality hopes to interdict the game, citing breach of contract.

As uncertainty grips the much-anticipated fixture, Otladisa said Marumo had continued with preparations as usual this week.

"What needs to be handled outside  the pitch will be handled by the management. Ours is to deliver on the pitch. As professionals we have to stay focused. Our assistant coaches have always been there and we are respecting them the same way we were respecting the coach. Everything has been fine,'' Otladisa said yesterday.

Born and bred in Rustenburg, Otladisa is on cloud nine to be going back to his hometown – provided the match is not interdicted – to play at a venue where he made his Premiership debut as a 21-year-old for the now extinct Platinum Stars in 2017. Marumo are the only winless side in the league this season. Otladisa has conceded their winless streak is concerning, vowing to remain calm. 

"It's a great feeling going back home, playing at a stadium where I started my professional career. I am so excited and looking forward to playing in front of people who're very close to me,'' Otladisa noted.

"We've been talking about it and yes it has that psychological effect. Again, looking at our games, we've not been playing badly. I think we've been unlucky. I think our biggest problem has been conceding late goals...we tend to lose focus. If we can stay focused the whole game, we'll start winning. We're not going to panic."