Benni frustrated by City’s lack of finishing
CAPE TOWN CITY coach Benni McCarthy admits he was extremely frustrated at his team’s inability to finish off the opposition at the weekend.
The Cape side are through to the semi-finals of the MTN8 after a 1-0 win over Polokwane City at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday afternoon. It should have been a far easier victory, though, as City squandered a host of inviting scoring opportunities. The 39-year-old alltime leading scorer for Bafana Bafana says his frustration had him wishing he was out on the field, doing what he does best: scoring goals.
“I was entertained by what I saw from my team on Saturday,” said McCarthy. “It was just so frustrating that we missed chance after chance. Sometimes I thought maybe I should put my boots on and show them how it’s done.
“Overall, however, I have to say that I don’t have too many complaints about the performance. We just have to make sure that we kill the game off earlier, so that the opposition doesn’t hang in there towards the end and keep thinking they have a chance.”
The main culprit for City, with regard to missed opportunities, was 30-year-old striker Lehlohonolo Majoro. McCarthy, though, wasn’t too concerned – in fact, he emphasised that he still has faith in the player and remains confident that the goals will come.
“The advice that I will give to Majoro is to keep doing what he is doing,” said the City coach. “As a striker, the biggest problem is when you are not getting into scoring positions. Missing goals is part and parcel of the game … It’s when you are not at the end of chances that you have to start worrying. ‘Major’ is there, he’s mobile, he’s getting in behind, he is getting at the end of the chances we create – so I’m not too concerned. I’m confident that his luck will change and, when one goal goes in, the others will come.
“I’m happy with ‘Major’. Saturday was just one of those occasions … I see a lot of myself in ‘Major’, in that, on his day, he can finish off any team. There is no panic at this stage and he remains the main guy up front for me.”
McCarthy had the media in stitches during the postmatch press conference as he described his nerves and emotions in the run-up to his debut as a head coach.
“I don’t think I’ve ever needed to go to the toilet as much (as) this,” joked McCarthy. “The players and the technical staff were all laughing because I had to go every time. When I got there, nothing was happening … It was all part of the nerves, so I told myself just to keep things natural – when it comes, it comes.
“But, at least, now the first game is out of the way and I can focus ahead. As for Saturday, we wanted to win and that is what we got.”