Putsche’s presence a boost for Benni’s City
ROLAND PUTSCHE has become such an integral part of the Cape Town City success story that he will likely be thrust right back into the starting team for the PSL fixture against Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg tonight (kick-off 7.30pm).
The 26-year-old Austrian hardman was certainly missed in City’s 2-0 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs last week. He was absent for the clash after suffering a deep, crater-like gash below his chin. The tear needed 17 stitches to repair and occurred during an aerial duel with Bidvest Wits captain Thulani “Tyson” Hlatshwayo.
On medical advice, Putsche was required This week’s PSL fixtures Today: Polokwane City v Free State Stars; SuperSport United v Chippa United; Orlando Pirates v Cape Town City (FNB Stadium, 7.30pm) Tomorrow: Maritzburg United v Kaizer Chiefs; Bloemfontein Celtic v Baroka FC; AmaZulu v Bidvest Wits; Platinum Stars v Golden Arrows; Friday: Cape Town City v Polokwane City (Cape Town Stadium, 8pm) Saturday: Baroka FC v Ajax Cape Town (Peter Mokaba Stadium, 3pm); Bidvest Wits v Orlando Pirates; AmaZulu v Platinum Stars; Kaizer Chiefs v Golden Arrows Sunday: Chippa United v Bloemfontein Celtic to rest for a few days. And, against Chiefs, City missed the player’s lung-busting and abrasive qualities, his intelligent link play and, above all, his composed, hawk-like presence which allows those around him to blossom, safe in the knowledge that Putsche is around to provide cover.
So it was understandable that City coach Benni McCarthy was a very happy man yesterday when he got the medical thumbs-up with regard to the availability of Putsche – and he will have no hesitation in throwing the influential Austrian player into the mix.
The combative midfielder travelled to Johannesburg along with the rest of the squad on Sunday, and McCarthy was hopeful that he would receive the go-ahead from the doctors as to whether Putsche would be able to play or not. The Austrian underwent a thorough examination yesterday, after which the City coach was given a resounding “yes”. It means that, with Putsche’s indefatigable presence, the Capetonians are expected to be a lot more solid in the centre of midfield tonight.
Now, after losing to the one half of Soweto, Chiefs, the Cape side is determined to avoid defeat against the other half, Pirates. McCarthy, as a former Buccaneers player, will have some insight as to what to expect. But, and it’s something the former Bafana Bafana striker is fully aware of, with Serbian Milutin Sredojevic now in charge of the popular PSL club, this could be the start of something exciting for Pirates. The Soweto team has struggled over the past season or two, but already, in this campaign, they’ve shown signs of revival. City have been warned – and they better bring their best against Pirates or run the risk of a second successive defeat.
Putsche is definitely aware of the challenge facing the Cape side.
“It will be even more difficult than against Chiefs because Pirates are in good form at the moment,” said the Austrian. “They love to have possession and I think we have to expect a different, far better Pirates than last season.
“As for Chiefs last week, that was only one game and I don’t want to talk about that anymore. It is part of the business of football to lose games, and then to analyse why it happened and to learn from it. Every single player in our squad should be over that game already and have shifted focus to Pirates. The coach (McCarthy) will have prepared us well again. I am sure that, if we can bring to the pitch what he wants from us, then we can go back to Cape Town with more points in our pocket.”
As for Pirates, Sredojevic is slowly but surely turning things around and, at this early stage of the season, the Buccaneers are already looking far, far better than they did last season.
“Although I am happy with our general performance I still believe there are some areas we need to improve on,” said the Pirates coach after last week’s 0-0 draw with Maritzburg United. “Obviously with the next match so soon, there’s little you can do except try and regenerate, and hope that the players are fresh for yet another challenge against City.”