‘Schillo’ to face ‘big brother’ Benni’s City
THE “big brother” who Steven Pienaar will encounter tonight at Bidvest Stadium has inspired “Schillo” to end his career with a bang in South Africa, after 16 years playing in Europe.
That big brother is Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy, whose team will face Bidvest Wits in his first PSL (Premier Soccer League) match as a coach.
Former Bafana Bafana teammates Pienaar and McCarthy both have Cape Town connections, which will add a dash of rivalry to tonight’s match.
Pienaar spent two years at Ajax Cape Town, before he was spotted by scouts and signed by Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam.
In the English Premier League, he starred for Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.
Cape Town-born McCarthy began his career at Seven Stars, before he also found fame and fortune overseas. He won the Uefa Champions League with Porto in 2004.
After stints at Blackburn and West Ham in England, McCarthy returned home and helped Orlando Pirates retain its PSL crown in 2012. After retiring, he studied for and completed his coaching badges.
Pienaar, 35, has joined a Wits team also looking to retain its league title in what could be his swansong.
“He (McCarthy) came back and did well,” Pienaar said. “He won several cups including the league. That’s the bar that I want to reach. It’s not going to be easy. I don’t want to compare myself with him.
“Let’s see if I can do the same. There is a lot of pressure on us (Wits) to defend the league.
“I am looking forward to coming up against his team. As a big brother, I have to do one over him.”
THE CAPE TOWN CITY success story is a classic example of the benefits of good leadership. Because it is in their charisma and work ethic – from club boss John Comitis to club captain Lebogang Manyama – that the others grab the baton and run, with energy, enthusiasm and absolute commitment.
As they always say, leadership is not just a position, it is action. And, in Manyama, City have a captain of action; in classic superhero terms, he’s Captain Marvellous, Captain Fantastic. LEADERSHIP QUALITY Manyama leads by example. He’s not the type who tells the players to go and do something; instead, he stands alongside them, and says “let’s go do this together”. And, then, he sets the example by heading into the trenches and making things happen. When the rest of the team sees the skipper digging in, and putting in the hard yards, there’s nothing left for them to do, but to emulate.
And this is why the team spirit and unity is so strong at City – because they all rally around the inspirational presence of Manyama. ROUTE TO CAPTAINCY Initially, after City were established in June last year, it looked as if the experienced Vincent Kobola was slated to be captain. In fact, as the club’s former coach Eric Tinkler admitted, he didn’t really think much of Manyama at the time.
But, later, he said: “You could see the talent, but I knew he needed to be challenged because of his ability, so making him captain was the right choice. And I think he’s led by example.”
Benni McCarthy is the new man in charge of City – and he, too, has continued to deploy Manyama as the skipper, safe in the knowledge that he has a footballer every member of the squad respects. PLAYING STYLE Many an outsider has been heard to comment “he doesn’t really look like a footballer, does he?” With his wide upper body, you wouldn’t think he’d pack that much skill and creativity, but that is exactly Manyama’s strength.
His appearance is deceptive. He doesn’t look as if he could easily ghost beyond a defender, but he does. He doesn’t look like he’s very quick, but he is. He doesn’t look as if he could be agile and twisty in possession, but he is. And, while defenders are still trying to work out what to do, the ball is in the net, or an opportunity has been presented to a City teammate, and the ball is in the net. It’s the confidence, though, that is Manyama’s greatest asset: When he gets the ball, he always has the self-belief that he can make something happen – and, most times, he does. INFLUENCE Manyama’s effect on the City squad can be seen in the steady, consistent performances. The thing about good leaders is that they don’t just get people to follow, they also bring out the best in everybody around them. In short, they don’t only lead and inspire, but they bring out leadership qualities in others. And, so, at City, you see players like Shu-Aib Walters, Robyn Johannes, Roland Putsche, Edmilson, Lehlohonolo Majoro and many others digging deep and finding qualities within themselves that they never knew were there.
With these players performing as leaders, too, it creates a whole that is solid and professional – and this, in turn, allows Manyama to fully blossom as a player, knowing that his teammates are on the same wavelength as he is.