CAPE TOWN - Football in the PSL frequently cops a lot of flak for its constant controversy, gratuitous gaffes and perceived lack of quality and entertainment. Arguably, much of the criticism has to do with the fact that the football spotlight habitually tends to accentuate the negative.
But, every so often, as was the case at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night, there is an occasion that blows this perception to smithereens. Cape Town City and Orlando Pirates played out a pulsating, thrill-a-minute 2-2 draw at the former World Cup venue in Green Point.
The 12 000 crowd in attendance got their money’s worth in an atmosphere of spectacle and glee, demonstrating in no uncertain terms that the crowd trouble at Loftus last week is not an example of the true local football fan.
The game itself was a treat - and the millions across the country glued to their television sets would have been enthralled by a fantastic show put on by two committed, quality teams.
Pirates may have been struggling of late, but they arrived in the Mother City armed with a determination to put things right. And they were excellent in an audacious first half, when their astute game-plan to deny City time and space saw them take a 1-0 lead at the break.
But this City team has never been known for easy capitulation. They came out smoking in the second half, exhibiting the style that has seen them capture the hearts of many a football follower this season.
With goals from the excellent Roland Putsche (who was named man of the match) and captain Lebogang Manyama, the Capetonians swept into the lead. They should have taken all three points, only for Pirates substitute Riyaad Norodien to break their hearts with a late equaliser.
“I was very happy with the way the team responded in the second half,” said City coach Eric Tinkler. “But I was just as disappointed with the first half We never applied ourselves in that opening 45 minutes and we certainly didn’t do what we had practised at training.
“After a stern talk at halftime, we made the players understand that they had to let go of the fear. They had to apply themselves and do what we are good at
“We then deserved to get back in it, got the two goals and should even have had a third. Afterwards, I can tell you, the mood in the dressing-room was sombre, and that is good. The players realised they had let themselves down. We got a point, but it felt like a loss.”
Next up for City will be basement club Baroka FC in Polokwane on Sunday afternoon (3.30pm kickoff) - and, needless to say, Tinkler has impressed on his squad the need to cast aside any hint of complacency. Playing Pirates, and getting motivated for such big clubs, is easy. It’s against the lower teams that a far greater challenge awaits.
“Leagues are won by beating the so-called smaller clubs,” added Tinkler. “So perhaps the draw against Pirates was a good thing, ahead of the game against Baroka. At least the players now know that, because of the draw, we are behind our target.”
Meanwhile, Ajax Cape Town will be preparing for a tough fixture against the PSL’s new log leaders, Kaizer Chiefs, on Saturday night (8.15pm kickoff). The Soweto side, in defeating Highlands Park at the weekend, moved to the top of the standings with 33 points, followed by City on 32 and Wits on 31. Ajax played to a 1-1 draw with Polokwane City at the weekend.
The issue with regards to this key Ajax-Chiefs fixture, though, remains the venue. Cape Town Stadium is not available and the PSL has since scheduled the match to take place at Athlone Stadium.
Ajax, the police and the city’s disaster management are not keen on Athlone for security reasons, especially because this game has in recent seasons attracted crowds upwards of 30000. The Cape club has booked Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium for the game, but the PSL has the final say. As of yesterday there had still been no confirmation from the PSL.
The official fixture list has Athlone Stadium as the venue and that is what Ajax are accepting, until they are officially informed otherwise by the PSL.