On Wednesday, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane claimed that the Cape Town City team was built by Muhsin Ertugral, sparking a war of words with the current coach Benni McCarthy. DEAN WORKMAN explores.

Mosimane, speaking at the pre-match press conference building up to the Nedbank Cup quarter-final clash between the Brazilians and the Blue and Gold Army, said that McCarthy has just inherited a good team and hasn’t done anything yet.

‘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, 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.’

This comment seemingly sparked some conflict between the two coaches. The former Bafana Bafana striker responded on Thursday claiming that he will not be sucked into mind games with the former Bafana Bafana coach.

‘The club was one year old when I arrived here, so whatever success they had was nothing to do with me. I’m looking to build something for myself… so yes, I did inherit a good team, whether it was Muhsin or Eric, but if you look at the players in my team, how many did Eric use in his team? And how many can Muhsin say he used? So, it’s tit-for-tat, he says this, I say that.

‘I was coached by [Jose] Mourinho, so mind games for me… good luck!’ he said.

‘Come Sunday, that’s when I talk. I think I’m a bit more experienced and not that naïve in the game to be bothered by mind games and whose success it is. But I think Sundowns was successful before Pitso was there – Johan Neeskens, I’m just saying. But it’s all good, it’s part of football.

‘At the end of the day, it’s about the players – they must go out there and perform, and grab all the highlights and glory, not myself or Pitso or any of the coaches – it’s all about the players.’

This was undoubtedly an attempt by Mosimane to try and unsettle the City camp. But if McCarthy’s response is anything to go by, it has only galvanised the squad behind their coach.

Cape Town City will host Sundowns at the Cape Town Stadium in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.

Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix