On their return to topflight South African football, Polokwane City hope to secure a top eight finish in the DStv Premiership this season, as they prepare to take on Cape Town City in their league opener at Athlone Stadium on Sunday. Kick-off is at 5:30pm (SA, GMT+2)

 The Citizens ended the 22/23 league campaign in 4th place last season as they maintain their status as a club challenging for various honours in PSL football.

Finishing six points behind SuperSport United, City narrowly missed out on the opportunity to play CAF Confederation Cup football this season.

Eric Tinkler’s side has been a consistent top eight side since their inception in the PSL and has not finished lower than 7th place since the 15/16 campaign.

In City’s best ever placing to date, the Mother City outfit finished as league runners-up to Mamelodi Sundowns in the 21/22 season. In looking to power their way to the top, City added Jo Paciencia to their attacking department recently, a player Tinkler compared to former Citizen star Fagrie Lakay.

“He’s somebody who trained with us in February, we had an opportunity to see him there, Angolan, explosive, little bit in the Fagrie ability in terms of his first two, three metres, he has explosive speed,” Tinkler said.

“He knows how to finish, left, right, aerial ability, he’s spent quite a while inactive, not playing, so we’ve been pushing him extremely hard, in terms of his fitness, his aerobic endurance – his repeat sprints, his understanding of English, our game model.

“But I see someone who can and help us and be the type of striker that we need within our system. We didn’t feel Bertrand Mani fitted, but we believe Jó Paciência does fit that mould a lot better.”

Rise and Shine last played top flight football in the 19/20 season, where they were relegated on the final day of the league campaign. At the time, Polokwane City ended a seven year stint in the PSL.

In similar fashion to their relegation, Polokwane City clawed their way back to the PSL on the final day of the regular 22/23 Motsepe Foundation Championship season. With Cape Town Spurs leading the way by two points on the last day, Polokwane City needed a victory provided the Urban Warriors drop any kind of points to gain automatic promotion.

Rise and Shine showed up with a 4-0 win over Pretoria Callies, while Spurs stuttered in a 1-1 stalemate against the University of Pretoria, ensuring their stop in the PSL in the process.

Now though, City assistant coach Phuti Mohafe believes that Rise and Shine can fight for a top eight finish in the league, with their aim being not to lose more than 10 matches this season.

“The Rise and Shine slogan should reach the sky because the day we have been waiting for has finally arrived,” Mohafe said.

“The preparations have been going well and the ambitions for us are to win every possible match that we can.

“We are aiming to consolidate ourselves and not lose more than 10 matches, because that would be an opportunity for relegation.

“If we can, then we’ll go for top eight. With the cup games, at least be in the semifinals of one competition.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Cape Town City:

Khanyisa Mayo: With 13 goals in 35 games for City in the 22/23 campaign, Mayo solidified his status as one of the best players in the PSL. In looking to ward off interest in the 24-year-old, Mayo could yet again be a talismanic figure for City this time around.

Darwin Gonzales: The Venezuelan took to PSL football like a duck to water and swiftly cemented his place in Tinkler’s side. Able to play in numerous positions, the 29-year-old is a nightmare to deal with for defenders and is able to cause damage from anywhere in the final third of the pitch.

Polokwane City:

Francis Baloyi: The centre-forward was a clutch player for Rise and Shine last season and was among the star performers in their crucial 4-0 win over Callies. Baloyi will hope to continue the goal scoring form he showcased in the last couple of games of the 22/23 campaign, beginning with a stern test against City.

Puleng Tlolane: As a loyal servant to Rise and Shine, Tlolane scored eight league goals for his side last season. Tlolane, who is no stranger to PSL football, will be tasked to be Polokwane City’s main creator yet again.