CAPE TOWN – The ever-present refrain during Cape Town City’s extraordinary debut PSL season has revolved around the squad’s unity and solidarity.
Throughout, week-in and week-out, they’ve always maintained that individual praise ranks a distant second when measured against team glory.
As log leaders City prepare to take on third-placed Kaizer Chiefs in a PSL fixture at the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday night (kickoff 7.30pm), central defender Robyn Johannes echoed the sentiment that the team has been at the root of the club’s success.
“We’ve had our ups and downs, but we always bounce back,” said Johannes at a City press conference on Monday afternoon. “And that is a tribute to the spirit of togetherness and camaraderie among the players, and the contribution of the coach (Eric Tinkler).
“But, for this game against Chiefs, we are expecting a tough outing. But we will just stick to our game plan. We will look to win as we do with every other game we play.
“This is crunch time, but luckily we have players in the squad who have the experience, they’ve been around, and they know how to handle the pressure.”
On a more personal note, Johannes, who is originally from Strandfontein in the Mother City, but playing for a Cape PSL club for the first time, says his motivation comes from within.
Robyn Johannes addresses a press conference at Cape Town Stadium on Monday. Photo: Chris Ricco, BackpagePix
Now 30 years old, and having played for Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, Golden Arrows, Maritzburg United and AmaZulu, he’s looking to add another league winners’ medal to his collection (he previously won it twice with Sundowns and once with Pirates).
“Coming from the First Division last season (AmaZulu), many people wrote me off. But I’ve been through that many times in my career…
“So every time I play, I don’t worry too much about people, I only try to prove something to myself.
“I have to thank the coach also for believing in my ability.”