Underdogs victorious
THE birth of Cape Town City divided opinion, but later we made peace with them after owner John Comitis explored the club’s ambition. He was brave enough to recruit team members who had been undervalued elsewhere.
Eric Tinkler arrived at the club with a questionable reputation after an unceremonious departure from Pirates, but the club boss described him as a “master” with tactics to uplift the team to triumph. Unlike other coaches, he has persisted with most of the first team players he inherited and has not tried to alter the team drastically or impose his philosophy.
He makes sure all the players feel like they have an important purpose and role in the team. This distinctive style is part of their identity, which crucially informs how they play on the pitch.
Cape Town City players must be proud of being part of a unit that has surpassed all expectations. What they achieved at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in the Telkom Knockout final was evidence of true spirit.
A collection of cast-offs and bargain buys moulded into a team of real skill, resilience and belief – honed into unlikely, yet extraordinary, winners. It even sounds like a romance script.
The risk taken by Comitis to build a formidable team was worthwhile. They have shown fearless attitude added to his instinct to accomplish.
Cape Town City won the Telkom Knockout over an enthusiastic Super-Sport United (two goals to one) and some describe their glorious victory as “fairy tales”. The term is being used to convey the idea that the team won from a position of abject impossibility but fairy tale heroes are typically at least semi-orphaned and embody core cultural myths such as The Lion King.
Cape Town City’s positivity underpins a strong team identity!
Wandile Mtana, Uitenhage