Growing up in Lotus River, Shu-Aib Walters always dreamt of playing for a Cape PSL club.
The classy goalkeeper starred for Plumstead High School’s first team in the late 1990s and also featured for Milano FC from Grassy Park, Newtons and Rygersdal before joining Clyde-Pinelands.
But the now-34-year-old – who was also a talented fast bowler and top-order batsman in cricket – became a household name in South African football as he made his way from his first professional team in Vasco da Gama to Bloemfontein Celtic, Maritzburg United and Mpumalanga Black Aces.
A decade later, though, his dream has come true and he will play for the newly-created Cape Town City FC, which was launched on Wednesday at the Cape Town Stadium.
“It’s always been something that I’ve been dreaming of, to play for a PSL club (in Cape Town). There were times that Ajax Cape Town contacted me – Craig Rosslee will tell you that – while I was at Bloemfontein Celtic and Maritzburg, to come back and it just never materialised,” Walters told Independent Media this week.
“I’ve had chats with (Ajax’s) George Comitis in off-seasons before, and it’s just unfortunate that it never happened. Now in a surprise move, it did, and I’m glad that it is at this time. This is a new team and something that I can build on and be part of.
“In 10 or 15 years’ time, my son can say and I can maybe see my name and we’re a powerhouse in PSL football, I can see my name in the office or a photo at least… That I’ve been a part of that original team. That’s a good legacy to leave behind as a footballer.”
Walters recalls the time he almost signed for Ajax Cape Town, when Foppe de Haan was in charge. But he didn’t want to be the second-choice behind Hans Vonk at the time as he was the No 1 at Maritzburg United.
But with the sale of Black Aces to former Ajax boss and businessman John Comitis, a new team in City has been born and Walters is finally back home. “Yes, it is the (ultimate fairytale). It used to give me goosebumps when I was playing against Ajax and my family was at the game. Now playing for the home team that will be supported by the majority of the crowd, it’s going to be great,” he said.
“It’s always good to come home, especially now in the month of Ramadaan! It’s nice and just a different vibe here. I spoke to Ashraf Hendricks (another Cape-born defender who played for Aces last season) last night and he told me he’s been out of Cape Town for 13 years. He misses the vibe and the atmosphere at this time of the year.
“Things will get even better when the public get to know the players and be more accustomed and able to identify the players. It will make you feel at home – that was one of the best things about playing for Bloemfontein Celtic, just that support from the community.”
Walters speaks fondly about his time at Celtic, and says that Cape Town City would do well to adopt a similar approach of getting the soccer fans back to the stadiums in the Mother City. While the new club will play some of their home games at Cape Town Stadium, some will be played at smaller venues too to get closer to the traditional soccer communities in the Cape metropole.
“I used to attend games at Hartleyvale and Green Point Stadium. I used to follow Hellenic and Cape Town Spurs, and it was full. There weren’t even proper stands at some points in the ground, people sitting on grassbanks at Hartleyvale, and that’s the kind of vibe we need to bring back,” Walters said.
Walters was quite close to Aces coach Muhsin Ertugral, who was set to join Cape Town City before Orlando Pirates snapped him up. But Eric Tinkler is an experienced manager who was in charge of Pirates until the end of last season, and he will be supported by a strong management team comprising of Craig Rosslee (technical director), Ian Taylor (assistant coach) and Calvin Marlin (goalkeeper coach).
“Muhsin build a whole new team as he let go of almost 20 players who were registered to Aces. Eric Tinkler will have the core of that team now, but he will need to add and build his own thing. But knowing Eric – and I haven’t worked with him before – he’s got guts, PSL experience and he’s won things and won in Africa,” Walters said.
“Calvin Marlin worked with me at Aces last season and played for Ajax for five years, so he is like a local. Ian Taylor speaks for himself and has his PRO licence, and been with Ajax. And of course coach Craig won the treble with Ruud Krol (at Pirates), so they know how to win things and how to compete. I think a top-eight finish is a definite next season.”
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