Benni turns to Teko for MTN semifinal
● Modise’s sublime skills likely to be put to test in clash against Sundowns
Benni McCarthy has hinted that he could select veteran Teko Modise against Mamelodi Sundowns when the teams clash in the MTN8 semifinal first leg at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
Modise 35, has not featured for Cape Town City since the season opener and was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 0-0 home draw with Lamontville Golden Arrows.
The helter-skelter pace of that match and‚ at times‚ the lack of quality on the ball, was crying out for an artist like Modise‚ and McCarthy said he might have brought on the former Bafana Bafana star were it not for an injury to Surprise Ralani that forced the winger off early in the second half.
“Now we will look how we can mix things up and get Teko back in there‚” McCarthy said.
He was not saving Modise for Saturday’s semifinal.
“My priority is always the game we are playing because it is important to always win.
“If I wasn’t forced to make the Surprise change‚ and to improvise and bring on [Riyaad] Norodien‚ he might have played.
“If not for the forced change I probably would have had Teko in there‚ just in terms of getting balls to [attacker Ayanda] Patosi quicker.”
McCarthy said it was highly doubtful that Ralani would be fit for the weekend‚ a blow for City after he was man of the match in a Nedbank Cup defeat to Sundowns last season.
Ralani, 30, just stopped playing when he had the ball with what looked like a muscle problem that was obviously painful.
“For me those are the worst‚ when players stop by themselves.
“Then you know it is serious and my first impression is that it is a torn muscle‚” McCarthy said.
“We will have to see whether he is available‚ but I doubt that he will be.
“If it was more of a kick, then you know but those selfstop injuries are usually more serious than normal.”
That could open the door for a Modise return‚ although other options would be to use Norodien or Gift Links out wide to add pace.
Meanwhile, skipper of struggling Kaizer Chiefs Willard Katsande said all was not lost, and told his teammates to look forward rather than brood over a poor start to the new season.
“I believe in the process‚” he said of Chiefs’ dismal start, which has seen them fail to win in the first four league games but still get through to the MTN8 semifinals.
“We have been playing some good football, but in a couple of the games we’ve conceded some soft goals.”
Katsande hailed a first clean sheet in the league against Maritzburg United on Friday‚ saying Amakhosi’s finishing had to be sharpened.
“We need to work on our execution and be more clinical in front of goal‚” he said.
“All is not lost.
“We know that there is pressure out there [from supporters] but we can only affect the future.
“Whatever happened yesterday‚ we don’t have power to fix it.
“It’s a question of rectifying one or two things.
“If we were not getting into the final third, we’d be facing a big mountain to climb.
“We are getting there‚ we just need that finishing‚ those final touches.
“With time and sticking to the process it will come right.”
Often in this situation, Katsande said, it boiled down to mental strength.
“Teams will go out there in a bid to frustrate you, so it’s up to you how you help add mental strength to the young boys‚ how you help them to stay focused and keep on performing.
“The journey in the league is not a straight road. There are some curves and humps.”
Chiefs are away in Atteridgeville on Sunday against SuperSport United in the first leg of the MTN8 semifinal. –