Benni snaps up Erasmus
MNTAMBO: WE HAD TO BOUNCE BACK AFTER FINAL LOSS
– Cape Town City have added to their growing list of impressive foreign imports after announcing the signing of Bafana Bafana striker Kermit Erasmus (below).
“Cape Town City is delighted to announce the signing of 28-yearold South African striker Kermit Romeo Erasmus from Portuguese Primeira Liga side, Vitória Setúbal. Kermit signed a threeand-a-half year deal,” the club tweeted on Wednesday.
The former Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United marksman has spent the last three seasons in Europe – in France he played for Stade Rennais and RC Lens, before moving on to Swedish second division club Eskilstuna, and most recently, Portuguese Primeira Liga outfit Vitoria de Setubal.
However, his career appeared to have been stagnating due to lack of game time; he made just one substitute appearance in a cup game for Setubal this season, and has only featured in 39 league matches since leaving Pirates.
The Port Elizabeth-born marksman has also fallen down the pecking order in terms of the national team, and Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter recently voiced his concern over the player’s inactivity.
That could all be about to change now as Erasmus links up with Benni McCarthy, South Africa’s all-time leading scorer.
“The eagle has landed. #WelcomeKermit,” the club tweeted earlier yesterday morning, together with a video of Erasmus undergoing a medical and meeting chairman John Comitis and his new manager.
Although several reports have claimed that Erasmus’ arrival is to be accompanied by Tokelo Rantie being shown the exit door, City are yet to confirm this.
Rantie was signed in September, but he’s yet to play for the Cape side, reportedly due to weight and off-the-field issues.
Erasmus will fight it out with Rusike and the club’s leading scorer this season, Siphelele Mthembu (four league goals in 11 games), for a starting berth. – ANA
Orlando Pirates midfielder Linda Mntambo says it was important for the Buccaneers to get back to winning ways following their Telkom Knockout defeat at the hands of Baroka on Saturday.
Mntambo, who has not been used regularly in the team produced a Man-of-the-Match performance during their 3-1 victory over Free State Stars at Goble Park on Tuesday night.
The win saw the Soweto Giants maintain their position at the top of the Absa Premiership table with 27 points after 15 games in their last league game for the year.
“Playing for 90 minutes was really great, thanks to the coaches for giving me an opportunity. We had to bounce back after losing the final, so we had to show character and make sure we scored,” said the former Chippa United player.
“We started off slowly in the second half and allowed them to score, which got them back in the game. But at least we managed to come back stronger and scored the goals that mattered.”
Team-mate Thembinkosi Lorch shared Mntambo’s sentiments in their eagerness to forget about the TKO defeat and bounce back stronger.
The winger opened the scoring for Bucs, before striker Justin Shonga and Mntambo increased the lead.
Lorch added it was vital for them to get the victory so that they can stay on top of the table.
“The win was important to stay on top (of the league standings), so that we should continue like that when we come back next year.
Meanwhile, head coach Micho Sredojevic says their ultimate target was to make the club’s supporters happy, adding that they will continue with their recovery in their next game on the Caf Champions League tie against Namibia’s African Stars starting with the first leg at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday.
“Our main target was to put the smiles on the face of our supporters and to bounce back strongly. With the win, we have taken one tablet, there are two more tablets to take, that is in the first leg of our Champions League match at home and away from home in Namibia and we should have fully recovered from the Telkom Knockout setback,” said the Bucs coach.