Cape Town - Roland Putsche is rapidly silencing the peanut gallery who are of the opinion that, when European footballers opt for the PSL, it’s invariably because they are not good enough to play on their own continent.
Cape Town City’s Austrian midfielder Putsche is made of different stuff - and, when the Cape side take on SuperSport United in the Telkom Knockout final at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday (kick-off 6pm), the classy European has an opportunity to transfer his magnificent recent form to one of the biggest stages in the PSL.
Putsche’s here by choice, not because he cannot succeed in Europe. He’s an individual who sees himself as part of a wider universe. With a socially conscious approach to life, he wants to make a difference; wants to contribute, in his own small way, to making the world around him a better place.
Last season, Putsche was playing in the Austrian Bundesliga for Wolfsberger AC. The 25-year-old had even competed in the Europa League, where his side was defeated by German giants Borussia Dortmund.
He left all that behind to come to the Mother City. He wanted to do something different, something worthwhile, so he took up an offer from a friend of his, Bernd Steinhage, who heads up the Young Bafana Soccer Academy in Somerset West,.
Steinhage needed Putsche’s assistance to coach, nurture and develop the promising young footballers. Inspired by the project, and by his own desire to grow as an individual, to burst out of his secure European cocoon, Putsche had no hesitation in taking the plunge.
Back row, Left to right: James Brown, Samora Motloung, Matt Sim, Eric Tinkler, Coach of Cape Town City FC, Renars Rode, Tshepo Gumede and Shaquill Abrahams of Cape Town City FC Front Row: Robyn Johannes, Ebrahim Seedat, Roland Putche, Duncan Adonis and Never Ngcuka. Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix
But he is, of course, still a footballer, a quality one at that, and he wanted to combine his work with Young Bafana with playing some football as well. And, as fate would have it, just at that time City were established as a new PSL club in Cape Town. Putsche went to Green Point to show head coach Eric Tinkler and club boss John Comitis what he had to offer. They were blown away by his ability and jumped at the chance to sign him.
But things are never always that smooth in football. Putsche struggled when the PSL season got under way. He battled with the speed of the game and the skill and quick, tricky feet of the local players. However, once he had got his match fitness up to scratch and adapted to his surroundings, he quickly started to demonstrate his undoubted ability.
Over the last few weeks Putsche has been in outstanding form, chipping in with some great goals and making a valuable contribution to the Cape team’s nine-game unbeaten run (eight wins and a draw).