Tinkler’s warnings against complacency fail to sink in at City

FOOTBALL doesn’t respect reputations or log positions. Cape Town City found this out to their detriment when they crashed out of the Nedbank Cup yesterday afternoon, losing 1-0 to Nelspruit-based Second Division side Acornbush United.

City have, so far, had a fantastic season. Last year, they won the Telkom Knockout and they are currently in a lofty second place on the PSL standings. In the buildup to the fixture against Acornbush, the Cape club’s coach, Eric Tinkler, spoke at length about the need to guard against complacency. After defeating Mamelodi Sundowns last week, he knew that he had to keep his players grounded. He spent the entire week drilling this into the team at training. But it all appears to have been for nought as City failed to overcome a lower-tier side they should, in truth, be beating quite easily.

But this “David v Goliath” scenario is at the core of the lure of football. It’s also the beauty of this competition, based on the popular English FA Cup, which allows lower league sides the opportunity to match their ability against their more illustrious top-flight opponents.

Tinkler, had promised to make a few changes for the Acornbush game, to allow a few regulars some rest, and that translated into starts for Letsie Koapeng, Judas Moseamedi, Vincent Kobola and a debut for new Zimbabwean goalkeeper Tatenda Mkuruva.

While City had the possession, they couldn’t break down the resolute defence of the Second Division side. Against the run of play, Acornbush scored in the 41st minute – and that was it. Try as they would, City just couldn’t find a way back into the game.

So, on reflection, Tinkler will probably be pondering on how effective his message against complacency was. Based on the result, it would appear that it didn’t sink in – and the coach will be demanding a far more improved effort in the Free State on Saturday, when they take on Bloemfontein Celtic in a PSL fixture.

Meanwhile, NFD side Stellenbosch FC may have crashed out of the Nedbank Cup, but they emerged with great credit from the 3-0 defeat to PSL giants Kaizer Chiefs at the Athlone Stadium on Saturday night.

While the popular Soweto club deserved the victory, on the balance of play, the scoreline certainly wasn’t a reflection of how well Stellenbosch performed on the night.

In fact, even Chiefs coach Steve Komphela had words of praise for the new Cape Winelands club.

“Stellenbosch gave us a good test,” said Komphela. “We have to compliment them on their energy, organisation and structure. They denied us space within which to play – and, when we were vulnerable, they were just not able to capitalise.

“In the game it was important that we took our chances, and that was what we did. We were up against a team that you could feel was always resisting. They are a team that could certainly be in the PSL. I wish them all the best going forward.”

Stellenbosch wanted to use the occasion against Chiefs to expose the club. They are just six months old. Previously the NFD franchise of Vasco da Gama, the club was relocated to Stellenbosch and re-named. The top priority is to get the team to the PSL – and they will view the outing against a team as good as Chiefs as a valuable learning experience.

“I’m very proud of the team and the way they performed,” said Stellenbosch coach Sammy Troughton.

“The aim was to give Chiefs some competition and a stiff challenge, and I think we managed to achieve that. There were a few blunders which led to the goals – and, at this level, and against a team with the quality of Chiefs, you will be punished.

“But we stuck at it, even when we were one or two goals behind.

“We kept trying and had some good phases of play.

“I think the entire team deserves congratulations for the way they played, and I’m sure it will stand us in good stead in the future.

“Look, the main aim is to get the club promoted to the PSL. So we’ll take the positives from the defeat to Chiefs, and hopefully use the experience gained in our upcoming games.”

As it turned out, it wasn’t a good Saturday for Cape teams in the competition. Three played, three lost. In addition to Stellenbosch’s exit, Ajax Cape Town surprisingly lost 4-3 on penalties to KZN Second Division campaigners Kwadukuza United, while FC Cape Town were beaten 2-0 by Baroka FC.

Cape Town All Stars will be in action on Wednesday when they host PSL big-guns Wits at Athlone Stadium (7.30pm kickoff ). OPENERS are certainly going to start lining up to play at Newlands pretty soon after Jon-Jon Smuts smashed the Momentum One-Day Cup ground record with a swashbuckling 173 not out to steer the Warriors to a bonus-point 90-run victory over the Cape Cobras.

Smuts’ record-breaking feat followed Henry Davids’s 163 – the previous highest score at the hallowed old ground – and Jonathan Vandiar’s 153 which was only struck here for the Titans last week.

Richard Levi continued the merry-making by the openers, but his 106 was not enough to rescue the Cobras. Levi’s innings was interrupted, though, on 94 (53 balls, 13x4, 3x6) when he was forced to leave the field with a groin injury. It was a critical moment in the game for the powerful right-hander had set up the Cobras chase with a blistering start.

After rebounding with a strong victory on Friday evening in Potchefstroom the Cobras would have loved to continue the winning momentum at home, but Smuts and his opening partner Gihahn Cloete ensured it was not to be.

The Warriors opening pair put on 119 for the first wicket to lay the perfect platform before Highveld Lions loan import Eddie Leie struck when he clean bowled Cloete for 70 (75 balls, 11x4).

Leie was quite impressive throughout as the leg-spinner kept the Warriors in check throughout by claiming further three wickets to finish with 4/56.

Experienced bowlers like Dane Paterson once again unable to execute under pressure. The new Proteas cap may have responded with a four-wicket haul on Friday after his mid-week mauling at Boland Park, but he was found wanting again here.

Paterson could not find his yorker length and simply offered Smuts to opportunity to free his arms by swinging strongly over the leg-side boundary. Paterson conceded 83 runs in his nine overs.