Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy has heaped praised on Siphelele Mthembu, but has urged the striker to be more aggressive, writes DYLAN APPOLIS. 

The former Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs frontman put on an impressive display during the Citizens’ 5-0 thumping of Free State Stars at Cape Town City last week.

‘Shaka Zulu’, as he is affectionately known, has now bettered his career best goal tally after scoring his seventh goal of the campaign. His previous best was six goals for Platinum Stars during the 2013-14 season.

The 41-year-old coach says he is impressed by Mthembu’s professionalism on and off the pitch, while stating that he gives him the freedom to enjoy his football within his guidelines.

‘Shaka has done it on his own, he’s a player who puts in the hard yards and he works exceptionally hard,’ McCarthy said.

‘He lives a healthy and clean life, and he’s the most disciplined player that you’re going to find in football.

‘I just give him the guidelines and the platform to enjoy himself and play to his strengths, and not to be too comfortable.’

Although McCarthy praised the KZN-born forward, the City mentor believes that Mthembu needs to improve his aggression on the pitch to help his growth even further as a player.

‘He’s got the ability, but I still want him to have the aggression,’ he added.

‘Yes, he’s ‘Shaka Zulu’, but on the pitch, people must be bloody scared to play against you. When you look at the history, the British, when you hear Shaka Zulu, you fear, so that’s what I want it to be like on the pitch.

‘He’s got the look of a gentle giant … yes, at home you can be a gentle giant, but on the pitch he must be an animal, Shaka Zulu who doesn’t take any prisoners. When in control of the ball, I want him to have more aggression, and not give it away.’

Cape Town City will now turn their attention to the Nedbank Cup when they take on cup rivals SuperSport United at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, with kick-off set for 8:15pm.