Kruger United are proving they have the hunger to go all the way in the Motsepe Foundation Championship promotion race, according to coach Abram Mongoya, who says the desire in his squad is impossible to ignore right now.
The Limpopo-based side moved to the top of the standings on Wednesday after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Lerumo Lions — a result that has firmly placed them in the driver’s seat as the season enters its most critical stretch. Mongoya was quick to point out that this campaign looks very different from the last one, when his side stumbled badly at a similar stage.
“We did not do right last season,” the coach admitted candidly. “We had a difficult run when we came to game number 23.” This time around, he says, the mentality is completely different — and you can see it in how the players are carrying themselves on the pitch.
Mongoya also highlighted the importance of bouncing back after their clash with Casric Stars, emphasising that home ground has become a fortress for the club. That kind of resilience is exactly what promotion chases demand when margins become razor-thin.
Mongoya Confident in Kruger United’s Motsepe Foundation Championship Title Push
Coming off the FIFA international break, the coach says the squad returned with fresh legs and, more crucially, a fresh mindset. “The boys are in a better mental state. You can see their want, their desire. Even when everything does not go right, they’re running, they’re just chasing,” Mongoya said, clearly pleased with what he’s seeing at training and on match day.
That kind of spirit can be the difference between a side that crumbles under pressure and one that grinds out results when it matters. And in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, where automatic promotion spots are fiercely contested, grinding out results is everything.
Next up for Kruger United is a trip down to Gqeberha to face Highbury FC on Sunday — and Mongoya is not taking the challenge lightly. He acknowledged that the coastal conditions in the Eastern Cape present their own unique difficulties, referencing how strong winds can shift dramatically between the first and second halves.
“We’re going to prepare for those conditions,” he said, stressing that thorough preparation is non-negotiable. The fact that the squad trains at a different venue adds another logistical layer to manage, but Mongoya seems unfazed — this is a coach who backs his players completely.
He described Highbury as a “typical NFD team” with a strong physical profile, suggesting Kruger United know exactly what kind of battle awaits them in the Port Elizabeth heat. Highbury previously held their own against Kruger, so Mongoya knows his side will need to bring something extra to leave the Eastern Cape with three points.
“I trust the boys,” he said. “We just need to have confidence in the team.” It’s the kind of calm, measured self-belief that steady title challengers carry — no panic, no arrogance, just focus.
For local football fans watching the promotion race unfold, Kruger United’s rise to the summit is one of the more compelling storylines of the season. As we’ve covered throughout this campaign, several clubs have had their moments at the top, only to stumble when the pressure mounted.
Whether Mongoya’s men can hold their nerve and sustain this form over the remaining fixtures will define whether this becomes a genuine promotion story or another near-miss. But based on what the coach is describing — a squad bursting with desire and growing belief — Kruger United look very much like a team that knows exactly where it wants to go.