It was a sense of deja vu for Polokwane City players when their team bus hit a 4x4 bakkie in Polokwane, Limpopo, on Monday. City, which has just gained promotion from first division to Premier Soccer League for the 2023/24 season, had to cancel training for the day when half of the players were treated for minor injuries.

COACH ALLEGEDLY TRIED TO BEAT RED ROBOT

A source close to the team told ZiMoja that co-coach Phuti Mohafe who was driving at the time tried to beat a red robot. It is alleged that Mohafe does not even have a PDP permit to drive a bus. The source said half of the players received treatment in hospital, and others were discharged after being treated for shock. The second known accident involving City players happened in 2015 when they escaped unharmed. Their team bus was involved in a minor accident in the city of Polokwane at the time. Polokwane Municipality Traffic Assistant Superintendent Kgaugelo Mphago confirmed the accident. "The accident took place at corner Marshal and Biccard streets near the City Centre. Mphago says both drivers of the two cars claimed that the robot was green for both of them," Mphago said. "But according to eye witness the Polokwane City FC driver skipped the red light," he said.

FOUR PLAYERS DIED IN 2012

In 2012, the team lost four players in another car accident. At the time they were still playing in the National First Division. The crash occurred on the R7 highway outside Turfloop as the players were returning back to Polokwane following a match with another club. The drive of the car that collided with the club bus was arrested and charged with drunken driving and reckless driving.