Coach Benni’s big Brockie gears up for his first decision for Wits derby at Downs
BENNI McCarthy faces another test of his coaching credentials when Cape Town City host Bidvest Wits in a PSL fixture at the Athlone Stadium tomorrow (kick-off 6pm). It’s not so much the fact that City will be looking to beat the Clever Boys for the fifth time this season, rather it’s a selection quandary that is the former Bafana Bafana striker’s big challenge.
McCarthy, make no mistake, has a big decision ahead of him: City are yet to lose to Wits, after victories in the MTN8 (twice), the league and the Nedbank Cup. But, now, he is not just aware of the resolve he can expect from his Johannesburg opponents, he’ll also have to find a way to shore up his central midfield.
With influential Austrian Roland Putsche suspended and Mpho Matsi still out injured, the 40-year-old has to find a way to fortify the team’s midfield shield. Against a side like Wits, bristling with central midfield talent, this area of the game is likely to be the difference between winning and losing. So, without the services of Putsche and Matsi, what does McCarthy do?
It appears the City coach has always been aware that this day would come, which is why, in the two legs of the CAF Confederation Cup, he has been playing captain Robyn Johannes in central midfield. Usually a central defender, Johannes is comfortable on the ball, a smooth passer and an all-round composed footballer. Initially, the plan was to shift the captain to a midfield shielding role and play Kwanda Mngonyama and Taariq Fielies in defence. But Johannes had a shocker against Swaziland’s Young Buffaloes on Tuesday – and, afterwards, McCarthy admitted that he might have to re-think his strategy for the game against Wits.
For the clash against the Clever Boys, Teko Modise will be the creative force in the Citizens’ midfield and Thabo Nodada the dynamic runner from deep-lying positions, a ploy that usually catches the opposition unaware. But McCarthy will have to find another midfielder to complement their strengths. The good news is that 19-year-old Shane Roberts has been excellent since his elevation to the PSL squad. He’s got great feet, an excellent, intuitive football brain and superb passer to boot. The question is: at this stage early stage of his career, does he have the defensive especially against a side as experienced and street-wise as Wits?
The decision is McCarthy’s to make. So far, in his debut season as a coach, the Capetonian hasn’t got too many things wrong. Let’s see.
“We can’t be too confident going into the Wits game,” said McCarthy. “Yes, we have beaten them four times this season, but now we have to be even more focused. We’ve already had a dip this season and we can’t afford to have another one. If we do, we will lose all the hard work we’ve put in this season.”
Over in the half of the Mother City, Ajax Cape Town are also preparing for what is a must-win fixture when they take on fellow-strugglers Golden Arrows at the Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 3.15pm). With the teams mired in 13th (Arrows) and 15th (Ajax) positions on the PSL standings, victory is paramount. JOHANNESBURG: Jeremy Brockie wore an evil grin in response to the question of what it would mean for him to open his Mamelodi Sundowns’ account tomorrow against his former club SuperSport United.
The New Zealand forward has gone 14 matches without finding the back of the net in the league. Brockie last scored against Platinum Stars in September last year, going from a deadly sniper to being a broken water gun. He struggled to find the back of the net at United because he was frustrated that the club was playing hardball towards Sundowns who were after his services. His move eventually happened in January and it has taken time for him to get into the same wavelength as his new teammates. He is hoping that being in a familiar environment, at Lucas Moripe Stadium, against familiar faces will help him end his goal drought.
“It would be very nice (to score against SuperSport),” Brockie said, followed by a loud laugh that sounded like that of a villain in an action movie.
“I am looking forward to going back and playing against the boys on the weekend. Hopefully a big crowd turns up in Atteridgeville. It would be very nice to hit the back of the net for the first time for Sundowns against the old club. I have kept in touch with a couple of the boys, Reyaad (Pieterse), (Dean) Furman and Thuso (Phala). They are looking forward to the game, and they are giving me a lot of support as well during this drought. It’s a matter of time before the first one hits the back of the net.”
The question then is will he celebrate should he score against his former club, a team that brought him to South Africa along with his family?
“Looking at the celebrations at Sundowns (with the dance moves), I still need to do a little bit of work. But I like to celebrate every goal I score. Yes I have good memories with SuperSport but now I am in a new journey. I will celebrate goals like I do every other time.”
“You just have to stay positive,” Brockie said. “With the positive energy that the boys are giving me, I am still confident in my own ability of being able to score goals.”
Brockie continued, “The good thing is that the club isn’t only dependant on me for goals. The best teams in football don’t rely on one player for goals. If you look around our team, Percy (Tau) scores, Vila (Sibusiso Vilakazi) scores, Khama (Billiat) scores, everyone scores. To be able to share that workload definitely eases the pressure on everyone in the starting XI. But it would be nice to get off the mark soon.”