CAPE TOWN – Cape Town City boss John Comitis spent the weekend sifting through around 35 coaching CVs. After the departure of Eric Tinkler to SuperSport United last week, he knows he needs to find a coach who will last longer than a year.
It’s no secret that the Cape PSL club has already had a meeting with Dutchman Ruud Krol about the position, while Benni McCarthy’s name has even been mentioned.
City are set to announce the name of their new coach this week, but Comitis is playing his cards very close to his chest.
“I know Krol from his time as an assistant-coach at Ajax Amsterdam and he won the treble with Orlando Pirates, so he has the quality,” said the City boss. “But I wanted to go through every CV I received because you never know what could pop up. I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t missing anything.
“I don’t want to make too hasty a decision. I’ve got experience of this from my many years in the game. Believe me, you don’t want to rush into it.
“From my perspective, I have to make sure that I make the right decision. It’s easy to appoint a coach, but the problem arises when things get tough. Then the questions come: Does he have the temperament? Can he handle the pressure? Does he have solutions? I have to be able to count on the coach, so I want to make sure that I do the right thing.”
Cape Town City chairman John Comitis. Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix
Comitis, though, did confirm a few of the names on the CVs in his possession. For those thinking of McCarthy, the name to note is, in fact, Chris O’Loughlin, who is among the applicants.
McCarthy was O’Loughlin’s assistant when the duo was in charge of Belgian top division side, Sint-Truiden.
Others include former Argentina striker Gabriel Batitusta, ex-Italy defender Claudio Gentile and even, believe it or not, 71-year-old Paul Dolezar, a former coach of Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Bloemfontein Celtic, Black Leopards and Mpumalanga Black Aces.
Meanwhile, in the other half of the Mother City, Ajax Cape Town gave some insight into what to expect next season with the signing of striker Sedwyn George and the promotion of talented teenager Leo Thetani from the youth academy.
Ruud Krol Photo: Jennifer Bruce/Independent Media
Maritzburg-born George was the top-scorer with 20 goals for Royal Eagles in the National First Division last season. The 25-year-old arrived in Parow to put pen to paper at the weekend and said: “I’ve heard of Ajax Cape Town’s facilities and to see it for the first time I thought ‘wow I’m overseas here’.
“Growing up, I’ve always wanted to play for Ajax because I know it is a club that has a good structure, and this is a place where I can grow as a player, work on my technique and develop even further.”
Thetani, just 18, has long been touted as a youngster who will take the PSL by storm. Two weeks ago, he was named as Player of the Tournament when the young Ajax squad played in an event in Terborg in the Netherlands.
“It feels great, awesome... I just got back from the Netherlands and here I am signing a PSL contract, what a great feeling,” said Thethani.