Majoro key to City’s chances against Wits

IF CAPE Town City are to overturn a three-goal deficit and secure a place in the MTN8 final, they are going to need goals – lots of them – and the player they will be banking on is Lehlohonolo Majoro.

City will take on Wits in the second leg of the semi-finals of the top-eight cup competition at the Cape Town Stadium tonight (kick-off 8.15pm). The Capetonians have a really tough task, having lost the first leg 3-0.

They also failed to score in a 2-0 league defeat to Golden Arrows in Durban on Wednesday.

The new Cape club, after a great start to their campaign in the PSL, have been decidedly short of goals. It is a major problem for coach Eric Tinkler, but he is hoping his players will be able to play with more freedom tonight – and in that way the goals will come.

“The team showed great character in the defeat to Arrows in the week,” said Tinkler. “The scoreline wasn’t a fair reflection of the game and I was very happy with the improvement the players showed after the defeat to Wits last week.

“As for the second leg, we’ll have to go at them, there’s not much else to do. What will help is that we score an early goal… It’ll create confidence and we can build from there.”

Tinkler will be hoping that Majoro, in particular, finds his scoring form.

The 30-year-old former Bafana Bafana ace has played for both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, which is an obvious indication of his pedigree.

But he didn’t see much game time at Pirates last season, hence his move to the Mother City. Majoro remains a prized player in the PSL. He admits he had other, more enticing, offers but decided to move to City to take himself out of his “comfort zone”.

Majoro has been a regular presence in City’s four games so far, two in the league and two in the cup (for two wins and two defeats). Although he has shown glimpses of his potential, he is still working his way to top form – and is yet to score this season.

But City are not too concerned – they know it’s just a matter of time before he comes good.

“Majoro is getting fitter and sharper with every game,” said City assistant coach Ian Taylor. “You’ve got to remember that he hasn’t played regularly for quite a while, so he needs time to adjust, as well as space and opportunity to get back to what we know he is capable of. As for us, as coaches, the challenge is also to find the right combinations to play alongside him, to bring the best out of him.”

As for Majoro, he’s just loving his time in the Mother City. It’s a fresh challenge, and it’s certainly something he is really looking forward to.

Even the three-goal deficit in tonight’s fixture doesn’t bother him all that much – he believes they have the players to give it a go.