PSL’s progress is a reflection of success in Africa, says Baxter
CAPE TOWN CITY stand at the precipice of a fantastic achievement. Currently top of the PSL standings, the new Mother City PSL club has surpassed even its own ambitions this season.
Established in June last year, who would have believed that they would be setting the pace at the summit of the log with 39 points, with nine games left to play. Wits are second on the PSL table with 38 points, followed by SuperSport United 37, Kaizer Chiefs 36 and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns on 34 points. The other title contenders still have games in hand on City – but, as they say in football, it counts for nothing. Points in the bag is what matters…
So, as City take a breather during the international break, how they negotiate their remaining games will be extremely crucial in determining their title challenge. We look at a few defining areas they need to focus on:
IT’S A THING City coach Eric Tinkler has been vocal about the fact that, in the last two fixtures, his team appears to have lost a bit of confidence. After a meritorious victory over African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, the Capetonians subsequently crashed out of the Nedbank Cup to lower-tier side Acornbush United and struggled to get going in a goalless draw with Bloemfontein Celtic. Next up for City will be Chippa United at home at Cape Town Stadium on 1 April – and Tinkler is hoping the international break will be advantageous to infusing the squad with renewed energy and enthusiasm. He wants his players to regain the swagger that made them capture the hearts of football followers across the country. And, as a former player himself, Tinkler is well aware of how importance confidence is to an individual and the team as
CONFIDENCE a whole.
IT’S ABOUT COPING WITH PRESSURE Pressure, as any player or coach will confirm, is part and parcel of top-level, professional football. It’s there, you can’t wish it away. If you can’t stand the heat, then go play tiddlywinks. While City have handled the pressure that often comes with crunch occasions, as they’ve certainly had the temperament during key moments in such big games, it’s the post-victory hangover that has bedevilled their debut season in the PSL. For example: After winning the Telkom Knockout last year, City finished off the year in a bit of a slump. And then, we all know what happened after they defeated Sundowns… It’s this pressure of the spotlight that appears to be hindering the Cape club’s march to the PSL title. With nine games to play for City, and a championship charge most certainly in sight, there is no room for faint hearts. Pressure has to be used as fuel, as motivation, for the remaining weeks of the campaign.
IT’S A TEAM GAME The team ethic has been at the root of City’s success this season. Speak to any player in the squad and they will wax lyrical about the spirit in the camp, the unity, and the allfor-one, one-for-all attitude that prevails in the squad. As City attempt to achieve their goal of winning the title, this is the characteristic that is key to their approach. As a team, they’ve been super-impressive this season. Their organisation, shape and structure have seldom varied. They’re a welldrilled unit, in which each individual player is aware of his role and importance to the team as a whole.
IT’S MORE MANYAMA But – and it’s quite a big but – City rely far too much on captain Lebogang Manyama. The Bafana Bafana man has had an extraordinary season and, in that, is to be found the Cape club’s weakness. Essentially, Manyama just needs to be slightly off kilter, and City
THAN struggle. He is the go-to player and, when they can’t go to him, or when he is unable to create something out of nothing, City have little or no spark. Aubrey Ngoma has had a good season too, but his game also relies heavily on his partnership with Manyama. They say one player is never bigger than the team… That is certainly correct – but sometimes a team is just so much better because of one individual. In City’s case, this is definitely so. If Manyama’s on song for the remaining games, the Capetonians have a shot at winning the title. If he’s not, then it’s probably a top-four finish. So, with this in mind, perhaps it’s time for others in the squad to rise to the occasion. IT’S HISTORY IN THE MAKING Winning the PSL title in a debut season – there can be no greater inspiration for City. Yes, they were Mpumalanga Black Aces last season, but, really, that doesn’t count. Think of everything that had to go into establishing the new Cape club: the relocation, the structures, the new squad, the marketing and promotion, the on-field football product and so much more. City are a new team – and, for them to win the title at a first attempt, represents an awe-inspiring achievement. For the players, surely they need no other motivation. History beckons… Do they want to write themselves into the history books? Let’s see. JOHANNESBURG: The seeds that were planted in 2013, 2015 and last year are starting to bear fruit. For a change, three South African clubs are one round away from reaching the group stage of the Caf Confederation Cup while Mamelodi Sundowns, the reigning African champions, have booked their place in the group stage of the Champions League.
The revolution is not complete but the signs are there that it is nearly finished, as local clubs are starting to do well on the continent.
Before Orlando Pirates reached the group stage of the 2013 Champions League no SA team had done that in seven years, just like no club had reached that stage in the Confederation Cup in eight years when the Buccaneers did it in 2015.
Even though Pirates lost in the final in 2013 and 2015, the myth regarding SA teams not being good enough in Africa was disproved by Sundowns when they lifted the Champions League last year.
The Brazilians have built on that success to reach the group stage of the expanded Champions League. Wits, who were demoted from the Champions League, Platinum Stars and SuperSport United will look to follow in the Brazilians’ footsteps in the Confederation Cup playoffs next month. It’s a big deal that at this early stage all four clubs are still competing on the continent.
“Some people have said that clubs are taking it seriously now,” Matsatsantsa coach Stuart Baxter, who has been accused of not taking continental competitions seriously in the past, said.
“It’s not the case. Clubs have had more experience of it. They’ve seen Sundowns and Pirates do well. We know more about it, which is why we don’t react negatively when we travel and realise that we are playing in a terrible pitch after a long journey. We just get on with the show. That’s important. The progress the league is making is also a reflection of that success in the continent.”
SuperSport reached the playoffs the hard way. They took two flights to reach Khartoum before driving for more than 200km to Shendi. But not once did they complain. They carried on with the show. Their B-team scored two away goals in the 3-2 loss to Al Ahly Shendi in boiling hot temperatures, before thumping the Sudanese side 4-0 in the home leg.
“I trained when we were there (in Sudan) and I was in bits,” Baxter, pictured, said. “I don’t know how the players felt playing in 38°C on a terrible pitch. But they dug it out and they did well. It’s a sign of togetherness because we changed the team a bit.”
In the past, SA clubs would have wilted from that pressure. But being exposed to those conditions on a regular basis has made the players mentally stronger. Teams also box cleverly now.
Instead of playing a coastal-based team at the coast clubs now use the most of their home advantage. Wits played against Al Ahly during the day because the Egyptians normally play at night, while Sundowns took on Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) at night because they usually play during the day.
SuperSport scheduled their game on a chilly and windy night against Shendi, who are used to playing in the heat. Dikwena have been resilient. A comfortable position in the PSL has given them freedom to give it their all on the continent.
The criticism that coaches like Baxter and Gavin Hunt have faced, of not taking African competitions seriously, has also played a role in this run. The pair are driven to prove those critics wrong.