Benni disses Athlone stadium
CAPE TOWN CITY coach Benni McCarthy enjoyed a stellar career as a player. Initially, the coaching phase of his football journey got off to a successful start too – but he said those achievements paled in comparison to the feeling of relief he experienced after his team defeated Free State Stars 1-0 at Athlone Stadium on Wednesday night.
After four successive defeats, McCarthy admitted he was feeling the heat and was desperate to get his team back on track. So there was great joy when central defender Taariq Fielies netted the late winner to ensure that City go into the international break in third position on the PSL standings.
“I’m a relieved man,” said McCarthy after the win on Wednesday. “I could feel the rope tighten around my neck – I tell you, I was playing hangman. But more than the result I was happy with the spirit and desire showed by the guys.
“I told them that we needed to have more desire as a team, and that once we got the desire back, the results would start to come again. I was really happy with the team effort, the players showed grit. We had our backs to the wall – it’s never easy trying to play football after losing four successive games, but we got the desire back and we got the job done. It was a massive win. I won awards as a player and I won my first few games as a coach, but it doesn’t compare to what I felt after tonight’s (Wednesday) win.”
McCarthy rested captain Robyn Johannes and midfielder Thabo Nodada. The two players have played a big part for City in the early part of the season – and the former Bafana Bafana striker says he wants to make sure that they last the season.
“It’s about managing players like Robyn, so that they can go the duration of the season,” said McCarthy. “Robyn has been the heart and soul of the team. Last week, in the Cup game against Baroka, his ankle was swollen like a tennis ball, which is why he probably had his worst game of the season. He needed the break, and I certainly didn’t want to play him against Stars and risk losing him for a longer period.”
In Johannes’ absence, in clear proof of City’s depth, Fielies and Tshepo Gumede partnered in central defence, and they were both superb.
With City out of this weekend’s Telkom Knockout, followed by the two-week international break, McCarthy now has some time to work on things before he sends his team back into action on 22 November.
“The break comes at the right time,” said the City coach. “We need a break.”
The surface at Athlone Stadium, once one of the best in the country, is in an atrocious condition. It’s littered with bare, bumpy patches and, truth be told, it’s just not suitable for top-level PSL football.
The unhealthy state of the Athlone pitch was there for all to see on Wednesday night – and McCarthy, was vocal about the alarming deterioration of a ground that holds a special place in the heart of the Mother City’s football followers.
“It was difficult to play on the pitch,” said McCarthy. “The players just couldn’t control the ball. It was bumpy and both teams struggled on the surface.”
The Cape’s water restrictions are in place, but a more accusing finger should be pointed at the over-use of the Athlone ground. The two PSL clubs – City and Ajax Cape Town – prefer to use Cape Town Stadium, but the inconsistency of the availability of the former 2010 World Cup venue is proving to be a stumbling block. So, in addition to City and Ajax having to uss to Athlone, the ground is also being used by the three NFD clubs – Stellenbosch FC, Cape Town All Stars and Ubuntu Cape Town – as well as Second Division team Santos. Add to that the fact that the amateur Coke Cup played all its finals – junior and senior – at the venue last month. In short, the pitch is crying out for a rest. But what do the clubs do? Where do they go? What are the alternatives? The ball, as they say, is in the court of the City of Cape Town.
Already, on Wednesday night, City boss John Comitis, after seeing his team strug- gle on the surface, said he wasn’t keen on playing at Athlone again. And, if push came to shove, and the Cape Town Stadium wasn’t available, then he would have to take his home games elsewhere, even outside of Cape Town.
McCarthy, of course, will remember a time when Athlone was the hub of Cape football, when fans flocked to the ground in numbers in support of local clubs. And, in spite of the state of the pitch on Wednesday, he got a taste of the past from the growing City faithful, who were a raucous presence on the terraces.
“I have to thank the crowd,” said McCarthy. “The way they got behind the team, it felt like you were at a football match. They pushed the guys, the players felt the love, I felt the love… and it felt like the old Athlone days.”