AmaTuks admits a good Nedbank Cup run cost them promotion

Speaking to SABC Sport after their opening game in the 2024/2025 Motsepe Foundation Championship against Cape Town Spurs this past weekend, Motaung says these are some of the lessons they have learned.

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AmaTuks went all the way to the semifinals in the Ke Yona Cup last season before Mamelodi Sundowns eliminated them.

They failed to win in their next seven matches in the league (five draws and two losses), which ended their direct promotion chances.

''100 percent, for me I think that match destroyed us psychologically.  If you look at the match we played against Maritzburg last season, I thought we created enough chances to win that match but we were not clinical. You look at the match against VFA, we were denied two goals, one was supposed to be a penalty. You look at the game against Magesi where we lost one nil. So for me, psychologically, I think it had a role, really that particular match,'' said Motaung.

In the past four years, AmaTuks have twice fallen short in the play-offs in their quest for promotion to the Premier Division.

Motaung knows that the stakes are high this season.

''Definitely, our attitude is that we want to get our team promoted. We went to the playoffs twice, now we are hoping and believe that  we can go all the way to get an automatic promotion. But I know it won't be easy. We have teams like Spurs, Durban City, Baroka and a lot of other good teams. If you ask me, I do think it is possible but it won't be easy,'' added Motaung.

AmaTuks will also have to dig deeper this season in the National First Division (NFD) without their former striker, Thabang Sibanyoni.

Sibanyoni played a pivotal role in last season’s campaign as their top goal scorer with eight goals.

The Mamelodi Sundowns striker has since been loaned to top-flight side Richards Bay FC, and Motaung knows that his absence will also affect their game plan.

''No, definitely yes Sibanyoni is a different breath altogether especially with those aerial battles and dropping those balls. I should accept that we are going to miss him. But it creates an opportunity for players, like Kamohelo and Kgomotso Mosadi. I believe we will get it right,'' he concluded.

Renowned for helping their former players with good academic transition and also preparing them for life after football, AmaTuks have continued with their excellent programme as Motaung confirms that the club’s former striker Thabo Mnyamane is now employed as the match performance analyst in the women’s team.

Mnyamane was also part of the recent South African U20 national team camp when they played two international friendlies against Lesotho, working as a match performance analyst.