Cape Town City’s vision to capture the hearts of Capetonians takes its first baby steps tonight.
After three months of planning, preparation and hard work, the Mother City’s new PSL club swings into action for the very first time when they host Polokwane City at the Cape Town Stadium this evening (kickoff 7.30pm). Everything owner John Comitis has in mind for the team, all the money invested and the new players signed, have all been for this moment - the start of their debut season in the PSL, the highest level of club football in the country.
Well, that moment is upon City, Comitis, head coach Eric Tinkler and the squad that has been assembled to represent the club in the PSL. Needless to say, Comitis can’t wait. He is in goose bumps mode!
“It’s all up to Cape Town now,” said Comitis. “The football will eventually fall in place, the players will perform at their best. The club will set up its base in Green Point... But only the true Cape Town spirit from Capetonians is what we are appealing to now. If ever we had a moment to change the landscape of the Cape Town Stadium through football, this is it. We urge Capetonians to speak with their presence at our inaugural game.”
In keeping with that sentiment, City yesterday announced that, in collaboration with the City of Cape Town municipality, they are offering free tickets for the opening game to any official city worker or employee, including firemen, bus drivers, police, trash collectors and other public servants. Upon presentation of their official city worker ID card at the Computicket Kiosk at Cape Town Stadium they will receive two free tickets.
“These are the people that keep us safe, our city clean, and make what we do every day possible,” said Comitis.
But at 7.30pm tonight, when the referee blows the whistle to get their debut 90 minutes under way, City know that all the talk comes to an end. Then, it’s up to the players to deliver the result and performance that will ensure the Cape’s football followers return the next time the team plays.
“While the new foreign signings will need time to adapt, we do have the foundation of the players from last season’s Black Aces squad,” said Tinkler. “We will obviously rely heavily on their experience. The biggest challenge going into the opening game was in getting the squad to know and understand each other, but I believe we are ready.
“Whatever happens tonight, we will get better with every game. The Polokwane fixture will give me a better idea of where we are at, where we need to improve and how to plot the way forward.”
For Tinkler, there is only one way to approach - attack - and, for that, he has one of the PSL’s top finishers in Lehlohonolo Majoro. Signed from Orlando Pirates earlier this month, the City coach is banking on the striker re-discovering his scoring form in the Mother City.
“The idea is to make sure that we are disciplined and organised and that we are solid in defence,” said Tinkler, the former Bafana Bafana midfielder. “But this is our home game and we want to make sure that we dictate the play. So, when we attack, I want to see the team go for it!”
“Majoro is a known striker and goalscorer, he knows what it’s all about and what we are expecting from him. He’ll bring a lot of confidence to the side. If you look at last season’s Black Aces team that finished fourth in the PSL, they had Collins Mbesuma in attack, who eventually ended as the top scorer in the league. But you also have to take into consideration that Mbesuma needed the supply from teammates to score those goals. The teammates who supplied the service are now with City, and we are hoping that they can provide the same type of passing and support for Majoro.” – Cape Times