Super City seek more scalps

... but high-riding Cape side must re-group for tough week with trips to Kaizer Chiefs, Wits

WHEN John Comitis established Cape Town City in June, he had one objective in mind and he wasn’t afraid to shout it from the rooftops for all of the Mother City to hear: He wanted his new club to capture the imagination of the football public.

Five months down the line, all will agree that Comitis and everybody attached to the club have certainly achieved what they set out to do. On Saturday, City defeated Free State Stars 4-1 to secure a place in the Telkom Knockout final.

They are currently second on the PSL standings and, earlier this year, they also made it to the semi-finals of the MTN8. In fact, they have now put together a string of seven victories on the trot. If that doesn’t capture your imagination, then I guess nothing will...

City will now meet SuperSport United in the Cup final on 10 December, at a venue still to be decided.

But the joy and excitement of making the final are already on hold. The Capetonians have been vocal that they have not, as yet, achieved anything. They know they need to emerge victorious in the finale before they can really say that they have arrived.

In any case, there is no time to dwell on anything because the next challenge is already upon them – and it’s a tough one, indeed. Tomorrow, City take on Kaizer Chiefs in a PSL fixture at the FNB Stadium (7.30pm kickoff ), and then, on Friday, the Cape side has an arduous task against log leaders Wits at the Bidvest Stadium (8pm kickoff ).

So there’s no doubt that coach Eric Tinkler will be highlighting that his players place the Cup final far, far back in their minds. The next few days of league action are just as important for the team.

But let’s rewind a little to Saturday’s semi-final win over Stars. It was a performance studded with entertaining offence and laced with class and quality. But for the heroics of Ea Lla Koto’s goalkeeper Thela Ngobeni, City could have won by a rugby scoreline, such was their superiority in all facets of the game.

“We should certainly have had more goals,” said a beaming Tinkler. “I am very proud of the boys, it was a great performance, they were fantastic. We really deserve it. I said to the players that this is an opportunity to create history for themselves and the club, to create a legacy. The trophies you have in the cabinet is how you are measured as a professional sportsman…”

City’s triumph was built on a magnificent team ethic and capped by a few stunning individual displays. Goalkeeper Shu-Aib Walters was the epitome of reliability, left-back Thato Mokeke never put a foot wrong and right-back Vincent Kobola was consistency personified. The new central defensive pairing (regulars Tshepo Gumede and Robyn Johannes were suspended) of Ghanaian Joseph Adjei and Thamsanqa Mkhize rose to the occasion and hardly looked out of place, while Mpho Matsi was his usual abrasive presence in central midfield. Sibusiso Masina, out wide on the right, is growing in stature with every game, while Lehlohonolo Majoro is looking enthusiastic and confident again.

But the three who deserve a special word of praise, as the drivers behind Saturday’s semi-final success, were captain Lebogang Manyama, Aubrey Ngoma, and Austrian Roland Putsche.

Manyama has been in fantastic nick all season. His game intelligence, awareness of space, and class and poise are a treat to watch – and, truthfully, on present form, there is no better player in the PSL at the moment. The left-winger’s pace, skill and brazen industry troubled the Free Staters for the entire 90 minutes, and Ngoma,

is another player who’s really set the local football stage on fire this season.

Midfielder Putsche arrived in the Mother City with a big reputation. He had played for Wolfsberger AC in the Austrian Bundesliga and had experience of playing in the Europa League. A socially aware individual, he’d come to the Cape to work with young footballers at the Young Bafana Soccer Academy in Somerset West and wanted to play some football at the same time. City couldn’t believe their luck when he first trained with the team, such was his quality.

Initially, though, the adaptation was tough. Putsche struggled with the speed of the game in the PSL. But he’s settled down nicely and, over the last few weeks, he has been extremely influential in the City engine-room. Against Stars on Saturday, without doubt, he turned in his best performance to date – and from here on in, no doubt, he’ll only get better.

So, as City prepare for a Cup final, just five months into their existence as a club, for Tinkler it’s an opportunity to get a personal monkey off his back. While coach of Orlando Pirates, he made it to the final of the Caf Confederation Cup and Nedbank Cup – and lost on both occasions.

“I hope it is third time lucky,” said Tinkler.

As for Comitis, who must be sporting a smile broader than a Cheshire cat, even he is probably dumbfounded by the manner in which his new club has taken the PSL by storm.

“There is a special energy in this Cape Town City team and it’s fuelled by all the positive wishes of Capetonians across all boundaries,” said Comitis.

“We are delighted to now pay back all those who have supported us since our formation.

“Most importantly, though, for all of us, the challenge is to stay grounded and remain humble.”