City strikers just need to do what comes naturally
CAPE TOWN CITY’S interminable quest for goals continues when they host Chippa United in a PSL fixture at Athlone Stadium tonight (8pm kickoff) – and the big question is: Has coach Benni McCarthy managed to permeate his players with a few pointers on how to find the back of the net.
McCarthy, one of South Africa’s most-gifted marksmen, has cut a frustrated figure on the touchlines as his team slumped to four consecutive defeats over the last few weeks. It’s not that they’ve played badly, it’s just that they’ve squandered so many scoring opportunities.
So what information can McCarthy impart? Based on his own experience as a goal-getter, what knowledge can he offer his players?
Well, he needs to impress on them that goal-scorers have attitude. They don’t think too much in the penalty area, they just do what comes naturally. He has to stress to his men the importance of composure: steady, focus on what needs to be done, and stick the ball where you want it to go; don’t snatch at it, don’t rush and, above all, trust your instincts. He also has to infuse them with confidence – this is the key to scoring. Goals are missed by players all over the world, but the critical thing is to not let it bother you; don’t dwell on such misses, rather wait for the next opportunity and make the most of it. Importantly, don’t hide, accept the responsibility, and handle the scoring opening with confidence.
Because the big problem at City right now, with their current scoring crisis, is that everybody is afraid of the ball in the penalty area. Nobody wants to miss, nobody wants to grab the initiative and so, when players are forced into a scoring situation, they rush, snatch, fumble, and then, needless to say, they miss.
A few weeks ago, City were firmly in the race for the league title. After four losses on the trot – Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, Wits and Baroka FC – they are now fighting just to stay in a top-eight position. McCarthy will be desperate to get his team back on track when they face Chippa tonight – but, in order to do so, they’ll need to bring a more decisive cutting edge to their finishing.
Captain and central defender Robyn Johannes has watched his teammates flounder in front of goal, consistently squandering their scoring chances, and he has been just as frustrated as his coach. He is hoping for a change in fortune tonight.
“It’s another difficult game for us,” said Johannes. “Chippa’s never an easy team to play against. They are a good footballing team. We’ve been really unlucky lately, but we have to keep believing in our quality as a group and make sure we turn around this bad run we find ourselves in. It’s our home game and we have to give our all, as we always do, to ensure that we get maximum points.”
Meanwhile, in contrast, over in the other half of the Mother City, things are finally starting to look up. Ajax Cape Town were simply superb in dismantling SuperSport United 2-0 on Wednesday, and it certainly looks as if coach Muhsin Ertugral’s philosophy is starting to take shape. There was just so much to like about Ajax’s performance – and, while they are not yet out of the woods with regards to their log position, if they maintain this momentum a move up the league standings can’t be too far off.
“It’s a process, but I always knew this team had the capacity,” said Ertugral. “You could see it with the organised win we had over Orlando Pirates a few weeks ago. As a coach, you have to start somewhere and, for me, it was about the defensive forms. Now, we are getting to the next level. You cannot just come out and play offensive football, it’s also about the positioning of the players, but SuperSport didn’t expect what we did in the opening of the game. We pressed them in the second zone, let them play to a certain point and no further. We needed to get a goal and then change things to sit back, close shop and then catch them on the counter. We got that (Fagrie Lakay’s goal) and then we got the second – I thought we completely deserved that win because of the attitude of the players and the fighting spirit.”
Ajax are back in action on Sunday when they are away to Bloemfontein Celtic at the Dr Molemela Stadium (3.30pm kickoff ).