City feeling quietly optimistic
A CONTRASTING set of circumstances confront Cape Town City and Kaizer Chiefs before tonight’s eagerly anticipated MTN8 quarter-final at the Cape Town Stadium (kickoff 8pm).
The situation has transpired on the back of Chiefs losing their opening PSL fixture against Wits on Tuesday, while City emerged victorious in their debut match in the top flight with a 2-0 success over Polokwane City.
But, as this beautiful game of football would have it, the scenario has resulted in a veritable mouth-watering encounter at the Mother City’s former World Cup venue in Green Point tonight.
Chiefs, a permanent fixture in the PSL, remain the country’s most popular football club. The illustrious Soweto side’s success over the years needs no introduction. In contrast, City are in their inaugural campaign in the top flight.
Having just been formed, after John Comitis bought the franchise of Mpumalanga Black Aces, the Capetonians are mere rookies when compared with tonight’s opposition.
The Cape team has had to build a squad from scratch, while Chiefs’ notable history ensures there is always a settled style and culture about their approach.
But football, as we all know, respects none of this – it’s the result that counts. And, as a consequence, Chiefs and City are coated with different emotions on an evening – because it’s a Cup game – in which the result is paramount.
For Chiefs, accustomed to success, the pressure is already on, even though they’ve only played one match this season. It’s just the nature of the beast when it comes to this club.
For City, there’s a mood of optimism after the opening win on Tuesday. They’ve settled the nerves and made a strong statement of intent – now the challenge is to continue the momentum, against a big club, on one of the biggest sporting stages in South Africa.
“The pressure is on Chiefs,” said City coach Eric Tinkler.
“They come into the game as favourites, but they also now have the added pressure of having lost their opening 3pm, SS2 CAPE Town City may be new to the PSL, but the club has its roots firmly entrenched in the annals of South African football. In fact, there is one special footballer both City and Kaizer Chiefs have in common: the incomparable Frank “Jingles” Pereira. Before being revived as a team this season, City were very popular and successful in the 1970s. Portugal-born Pereira played for City from 1973-79, after which he joined Chiefs, where he would go on to become a cult figure among the dedicated and obsessed faithful who follow the Soweto side. To emphasise Pereira’s distinctive, extraordinary ability, he was City’s top goal-scorer in 1973 and 1974, but his fame and acclaim at Chiefs was as a central defender, alongside celebrated Amakhosi backline men like Johannes “Ryder” Mofokeng, Simon “Bull” Lehoko and Nick “Yster” Sikwane.
game. I expect they’ll come out motivated and inspired to turn that around, and we will have to be ready. While Chiefs may think that they will come through this match easily, we want to make it difficult for them.”
Chiefs coach Steve Komphela acknowledged the plight in which he and his team found themselves, but explained his philosophy of pressure in his usual unique manner.
“The seat is getting hot, but you have to be addicted to it,” said Komphela. “This is a fantastic brand, it’s a great job, who wouldn’t want it? But you have to embrace the pressure.
“It’s not about me coaching Chiefs, it’s about me representing the team, the brand – because you need to do right, and the most important people are the supporters, you have to make them happy.
“It’s time to deliver for these people.”