Cape Town - The SA football fraternity waits in anticipation to see how Cape Town City will go this season.
The new kid on the block, City was established after John Comitis purchased the PSL franchise of Mpumalanga Black Aces. The experienced football administrator relocated the club to the Mother City, bringing along with him 14 players of the Black Aces squad that finished a lofty fourth position on the log last season.
If anything, Comitis knows what it takes to run a club. And, having been a top-flight player himself with Wits, Hellenic and Cape Town Spurs, he certainly knows what a good player looks like.
“I wanted to do something for the city,” said Comitis. “I wanted to create a club that can make a difference, a team that every Capetonian can feel a part of. I want to get the communities across the Cape involved with the club.”
Arriving in the city in June, when Comitis took ownership, City only had 14 players to work with. But Comitis, and head coach Eric Tinkler, worked quickly and cleverly to beef up the squad with a mix of youth and experience, including a few overseas footballers as well.
“The signings we made show that we mean business,” said Comitis. “We are balancing out the team with different styles of football ... There is the home-grown, local Diski players from Black Aces, the youth from Cape Town, and the experience of the Europeans we’ve added. We are excited, we are ready. We want to be contenders, that’s what we are about.”
Former Bafana Bafana hard man Tinkler has a difficult task, especially in preparing a squad that has been put together so hastily. But the ex-Pirates coach never shirks a challenge.
“I enjoy a challenge, that's just in my nature, and that is why I jumped at the opportunity,” said Tinkler. “Obviously, City are a team that is starting from scratch, but that’s what makes the challenge so appealing. It’s a chance to create something from nothing, and make a bit of history.
“The players from last season’s Black Aces squad are very important. They know what it’s all about and their role will be to assist the new players to adapt, and to pass on information and knowledge of local conditions to the overseas contingent. Rest assured, when the season kicks off, we’ll be ready.”
Analysis
The club is new and the squad is new, so the big question is: How will they do in their debut season in the PSL? There are those who believe that they will struggle, especially taking into consideration that the hotch-potch squad put together will have to adapt and adjust before finding their feet.
But there are also those, particularly in the corridors of City, who are of the opinion that the squad will be highly competitive and, if luck goes their way, they could easily cause a major surprise this season. City’s biggest strength is in the 14 Black Aces squad members of last season.
They performed magnificently in spearheading the Mpumalanga club to a high finish in the PSL - and it’s that experience and knowledge that City will be banking on. In addition, the Capetonians have strengthened their spine with the addition of central defender Tshepo Gumede and the strike power of Lehlohonolo Majoro. And, for a wild card, watch out for Austrian midfielder Roland Putsche, a top-class performer in Europe, who just last year was playing in the Europa League with Austrian side Wolfsberger AC.
Key man: Aubrey Modiba
Modiba starred for Black Aces during their break-out campaign last season. He was hugely influential for the Mpumalanga team - and he was given deserved recognition for his outstanding performances by winning the PSL’s Young Player of the Season award. And, not only that, he subsequently carved out a place in the SA U23 Olympic squad.
Now, after Black Aces evolved into Cape Town City, the 21-year-old Modiba is looking to continue the rapid progress his game has made over the last few months.
Tinkler has already admitted that the player will play a big role as City seek to get their debut campaign off to a winning start. The Mother City will be new to Modiba, but he needn’t be too concerned. The Cape’s football public appreciate talent - and, if Modiba continues to deliver as he has done recently for club and country, then he’ll be one of the city’s favourite sons.
New Signings
Lehlohonolo Majoro, Roland Putsche, Matt Sim, James Brown, Renars Rode, Ebrahim Seedat, Robyn Johannes, Tshepo Gumede, Shaquille Abrahams, Samora Motloung, Duncan Adonis and Never Ngcuka
POSITION IN FIVE PREVIOUS SEASONS: Debut
The Star