Nodada covers acres of ground, up and down the field, as he inspires City to victory

CAPE TOWN CITY’S Thabo Nodada is rapidly developing into one of the brightest lights in the PSL. Last night, the ebullient midfielder was again the beating heart of the team as City defeated a plucky Polokwane City 2-1 in a league fixture at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Coach Benni McCarthy’s plan to use veteran Teko Modise and Austrian Roland Putsche as defensive shields in front of the back four, allowing the dynamic Nodada a free role in midfield worked brilliantly. The 23-yearold covered acres of ground, up and down the field, as he inspired the Cape side to victory.

City started the game in good fashion, impressing with their usual pass and move football. And, with Nodada calling the shots, it was on yet another of his darting runs that he was able to find space down the left flank and cut back a cross for Ayanda Patosi to give City the lead in the seventh minute.

For City, because of the threat posed by Polokwane, a second goal was always going to be crucial. And, in the 58th minute, that was what they got – and, again, that man Nodada was involved. A run and cross from Thami Mkhize found Nodada in the penalty area, but his shot at goal was parried by Polokwane keeper Harold Ndlovu, and it left Siphelele Mthembu with a simple tap-in to give the Capetonians a 2-0 lead. The task was seemingly made more comfortable 10 minutes later when Polokwane’s captain Jabu Maluleke was sent off after picking up two yellow cards. But easy it wasn’t going to be for the Capetonians. Polokwane pulled a goal back when substitute Mohamed Anas converted a penalty and they then piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser.

But City managed to hang on and they would have breathed a huge sigh of relief when the referee blew the final whistle. –

Rodney Reiners