Betway Premiership: Freese slams derby-shy Magesi FC

South Africa’s Magesi FC coach Allan Freese has slammed his players for a below-par performance during a Betway Premiership match against Polokwane City on Friday.

The Betway Premiership strugglers lost 2-0 to their city rivals at Seshego Stadium in a manner that disappointed the veteran coach, who replaced John Maduka recently.

DERBY MODE ACTIVATED.🐊💙

🆚 @polokwanecity_f
🏆:#BetwayPrem
🏟️:Seshego Staduim
📆:Friday,27 February 2026
⏱️:19H30
🎟️: Computickets
📺: SS PSL#dikwenatsameetse#magesifc#betwayPrem #aquelleviv pic.twitter.com/KUv9mFKqvx

— Magesi Football Club (@Magesi_FC) February 26, 2026

In a post-match interview, Freese told SuperSport Television that his charges were simply not ready for the Limpopo derby, citing their failure to win 50-50 duels as a sign of their lack of readiness.

“It wasn’t the outcome I really wanted,” the coach said. “We were not up for the derby. We were second to the ball and in everything. I will try and fix this before the next game, but we were second in everything.”

What Allan Freese told Magesi FC players

The 69-year-old disclosed the message he shared with his players before the match and the one he did not take heed off.

“I said to them: ‘are you geared up for the derby?’ . I said: ‘please guys, be ready.’ A derby is not where you are soft…we couldn’t do it, so we will go back and see what we can do,” he added.

The Dikwena tša Meetse mentor has now gone winless in two games since taking over the mantle from Maduka. On Friday, Mokibelo Ramabu and Thabang Matuludi scored for Polokwane City.

Magesi remain rooted at the bottom of the table with 12 points from 18 games while Rise and Shine lie in seventh place with 28 points from 18 matches.