Cape Town City coach Jan Olde Riekerink insists his side have made a strong statement after securing a 1-0 victory over Black Leopards at Cape Town Stadium over the weekend.

The Citizens have now claimed back-to-back victories in the Absa Premiership since suffering a 3-0 defeat by Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium on 12 January.

The wins moves City up to 10th place in the league with 23 points from 20 games played, having won five, drawn eight and conceded seven defeats so far this season.

Olde Riekerink praised his side for their performance against Leopards, singling out Mpho Makola and Thabo Nodada.

‘It was important for us to make a strong statement in the first half and not allow them to dictate the rhythm, and we did just that,’ Olde Riekerink told the media.

‘We had a really big chance from a corner earlier on and if we scored a goal the whole game would have been a lot easier. Then later on we dropped the tempo too low and had to make repairs at half time.

‘We let Mpho Makola, who was playing as a defensive midfielder, play a little more deeper and Thabo Nodada in midfield a little more into spaces behind Kermit and in between their two central defenders. They did well – there was little more focus on the transition and we started to dictate play again.

‘I must pay my team a big compliment for the points they’ve earned this year. We were in a difficult situation on the log and needed a change in fortunes, so again well done to them for what they’ve been able to achieve.’