What’s it like having a living legend like Benni McCarthy as a coach? TFG SoccerClub caught up with Bafana Bafana and Cape Town City defender Taariq Fielies to find out, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.
The former Ajax Cape Town and Milano United defender was snapped up by the Citizens after impressing McCarthy on a month-long trial prior to the start of the 2017-18 campaign.
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We’ve taken another step to bolster our defence ahead of tough domestic and continental campaigns, by signing Taariq Fielies! #iamCityFC pic.twitter.com/Vh22271Vh1
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) July 20, 2017
Fielies punched above his weight in his breakthrough season, featuring 34 times across all competitions, while managing to find the back of the net once (an 86th-minute winner against Free State Stars)
The no-nonsense defender showered praise on coach McCarthy and admits to being star-struck by South Africa’s only UEFA Champions League winner.
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‘It’s truly an honor to have someone of his calibre as our head coach,’ he told FourFourTwo South Africa
‘I mean who wouldn’t want to be in his company everyday? The man’s a legend,’ he added.
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Fielies also alluded to his fondest memories of his first full season in the top-flight, citing his debut in the 1-0 victory over Bidvest Wits in the MTN8 in addition to reaching the cup-final, where they narrowly lost out on penalties to SuperSport United.
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City do duty against SuperSport in their first Absa Premiership clash at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday 4 August with kickoff set for 6pm.
Photo: Gallo Images