PRETORIA – Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane argues that Cape Town City have Muhsin Ertugral to thank for the foundation he laid that has seen them take South African football by storm.
The Citizens finished third, qualifying for the Caf Confederation Cup, and won the Telkom Knockout in their first season in the last campaign after John Comitis bought Mpumalanga Black Aces and relocated the team to the Mother City.
The Aces team that Comitis bought had a potent attack that helped AmaZayoni finish in fourth place in the 2015/16 season.
Mosimane said this ahead of the Brazilians’ Nedbank Cup quarter-final clash with City at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday.
“We are playing against a very good team,” Mosimane said. “Everybody knows the history between us and them. The history favours them.
“But we won the last match, and if you come into this game with the argument that you are only as good as your last game, that means history favours us in that regard.
“The last three encounters before that favoured them. They are a very good team. They are a well-oiled machine. They know how to play with the ball and without it.
“They have a lot of experienced players. They are led by a young and upcoming coach with a good pedigree of playing at the highest level in Europe.
“We have to pay our respect to them, understand that they are a good team and that’s why they are where they are.
“They are a team that was well built by Muhsin. Eric (Tinkler) inherited the team and didn’t do much. It’s the same with Benni (McCarthy), he inherited the team and didn’t touch much.
“We forget to pay tributes to Muhsin, who built a very strong team. It’s the way it is.
“We respect them, and we know that it’s going to be difficult for us.”
@NJABULON
IOL Sport