Shrewd moves in the transfer window and work on the training pitch have helped Cape Town City make a fast start to life in the Premiership, writes WADE PRETORIUS in SoccerClub magazine.
The cameras and TV crews have departed, and the hard yards have been done on the training pitch as Cape Town City gear up for their maiden Premiership campaign.
Everything about the team’s formation – the unveiling to the media and fans and social media campaigns, has been slick – almost a football team’s representation of the city they have planted themselves in. ‘The boss welcomed us warmly to the Mother City,’ influential midfielder Aubrey Ngoma tells SoccerClub.
‘We’ve done a couple of tours around Cape Town and we are getting used to our new surroundings. Training has been going well, as we are starting to understand what the coach wants from us with each session.’
The majority of the players who did duty for Black Aces last season have made the switch to Cape Town and Ngoma believes the change of scenery won’t affect the team, who finished fourth last term.
‘We’ve been getting help from the boys around here. The Capetonians have been helping us in terms of the weather. As professionals, we need to adapt, although there are some conditions you can’t control. We can only control how we train and play. We just have to carry on with our jobs, no matter what happens.’
Ngoma has set himself clear targets for the season but highlights that the team comes first, no matter what. ‘I want to see my team doing well. I want to get as many assists as possible as an attacking player. The most important thing is the club; even if I’m not playing I want to see us doing well. That’s what will make me happy.’
One player making a return to the Cape is star midfielder Lebogang Manyama, a former Urban Warrior from his new club’s rivals, Ajax. Manyama echoes the feelings of teammate Ngoma, in putting the team first and whatever follows from that will be a bonus. It’s clear Cape Town City and their players are intent on building lasting relationships with the city and the team itself.
‘It’s all about helping the team and reaping the individual rewards afterwards,’ Manyama tells SoccerClub. ‘With all the expectations, according to my own standards, I feel I need to lead the team. That doesn’t add more pressure on me because I believe I’m a team player. Teamwork is going to be vital this season and I’m happy to put the club first. I’ll worry about my own performances later.’
Manyama stresses that his new team must not only achieve positive results, but also play an attractive brand of football if they want to win over the Cape fans.
‘I think the only way to get people to come and watch football in Cape Town is by playing entertaining football. When Ajax came second, they were playing attacking football and the stadiums were full week in and week out. It’s simple; no one wants to watch boring football. If we can come up with the results and play entertaining football, the stadium will be full every week.’
City’s technical team have worked furiously to recruit top talent to their already strong squad, including foreigners like Australian Matt Sim and fellow midfielder Roland Putsche, from Austria. Sim reveals that discussions with Jeremy Brockie, Michael Boxall and Isaka Cernak were key to the former Western Sydney Wanderers player trading the A League for the PSL.
‘I had a good chat to them about the league, the set-up here and the country. They were nothing but positive about the experience,’ says Sim.
‘So, when the opportunity arose, I thought, “I’m definitely going to see it for myself” and you know, Cape Town is a beautiful city. Once I saw the owner and the coach’s vision for what they are trying to build and what they want to achieve, I felt it was definitely a good fit for me and something I want to be a part of.’
The pieces of the puzzle have been carefully placed together, with fans in Cape Town hopeful the city’s new side will hit the ground running. There’s no better opportunity than their MTN8 quarter-final against Kaizer Chiefs*.
About Matt Sim
The 28-year-old midfielder describes himself as a hard-working, box-to-box midfielder. ‘I love creating and scoring goals, even from the central position. I love being a part of the attack, but I don’t neglect my defensive responsibilities.’
The Australian will be looking to help City’s cause by influencing play from the centre of the park with his versatility – he can play anywhere down the left side as well – and using his technical skills.
– This article first appeared in issue 72 of SoccerClub magazine. Since then, Cape Town City beat Kaizer Chiefs, with Matt Sim scoring the winner, in the MTN8 quarter-final, they won the local derby against Ajax Cape Town and currently sit fourth on the PSL table.
Photo: All photos Backpagepix
