Highlands Park striker Rodney Ramagalela explains why he is not nervous about facing his former team Polokwane City in the MTN8 semifinals.
The Lions of the North host Rise and Shine at Makhulong Stadium tonight in the second leg of their last-four clash, with the winner earning a final against either Mamelodi Sundowns or SuperSport United.
Ramagalela's exit from Polokwane was controversial and drawn-out as the club sidelined him to the stands during the last few months of his stay.
"We had our differences in the past but look, football is a beautiful game, we have to enjoy it," Ramagalela said after the first leg, which ended goalless.
"It was good for me to be back, especially against my former team and I felt at home. They never booed me like they used to do in Venda. So I was happy to be here."
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Ramagalela said he was not nervous coming into the first game.
"Look I've never been nervous of anyone. Polokwane is like any team in the PSL so I can't be nervous. It's not like Sundowns or Pirates. Polokwane City, with all due respect, they are still a small team. So there's no nervousness when it comes to football, especially from Rama.
"Look, I'm trying to get back as you know, I lost my daughter a few weeks ago. It's not easy I can say. But as a footballer I'll just have to carry myself and keep going.
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"It's going to be a tough one when we go to Makhulong. I think we just have to use our home advantage and make sure we score first, and we must not let them score, which will make us win the game."
How has his stay been at Highlands Park so far?
"Look, for me it's about professionalism. I think I'm professional enough to adapt, to take any situation and live with it, whether it's pain or good, but I will have to make the good out of it," he said.
"As a small team like Highlands Park we are very happy about where we are now, and there's still room for improvement that we working on. I still believe going forward we'll collect more points."
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