Patosi all set to make Cape Town City debut
Bafana Bafana winger back in SA after six years in Belgium.
Ayanda Patosi is looking forward to making his Premier Soccer League debut with Cape Town City and says he has been excited by the ambition of the club.
The Bafana Bafana winger has returned to South Africa after six years in Belgium with top-flight side Lokeren, who he joined as a teenager from the ASD Academy in Cape Town. It was at times a rocky road for him in Europe as he battled with weight and fitness issues, but he is ready for a fresh start and has settled down quickly to life back in the Mother City. “I’m enjoying time with my family after being away for six years,” Patosi told SOWETAN.
“The guys at the club are more like a family as well, so it’s been easy to settle in with the team. Training has been going well and I’m just looking forward to the matches starting.”
Patosi says that a conversation with City owner John Comitis persuaded him to sign for the club after he became a free agent at the end of the last season.
“It was an easy decision after I spoke to Mr John. I’ve known him for a long time and when he spoke to me and told me their ambition, it was something that excited me.”
Patosi left for Belgium before playing in the PSL, but feels he will have no problems settling in, especially with some vastly experienced players around him.
“I don’t put any pressure on myself, we have players with great experience, [Lehlohonolo] Majoro, Teko [Modise], [Shu-Aib] Walters and Lebo [Manyama], they all have great careers in the PSL, so it will be easy for me to settle quickly with the squad that we have around us.”
Patosi has also praised the work of rookie coach Benni McCarthy, who will make his debut leading the team in the MTN8 quarterfinal against Polokwane City on Saturday.
“He’s doing great in training, it’s very easy to work with him because he communicates well with the players. If you feel comfortable with the coach off the field, you give everything in matches. I think he is going to do very well.”