WOW. What a difference a week makes.
Last week, I was writing about how Cape Town City blew a great chance to krap the skapies om in the PSL title race.
This week, after beating championship rivals Mamelodi Sundowns and Wits since we last chatted, Benni McCarthy’s team are one point off the top of the table.
Sundowns still have a one-point lead and a game in hand, those margins are getting super thin and banking points is all that matters now.
As it stands, with just seven games to play for City, they are in the thick of the title race and stand as good a chance as any to lift the trophy at the end of season.
MADE AN IMPACT: New signing Chris David. PHOTO: BACKPAGEPIX
And whether Benni and his players want to admit it or not, it’s time for them to take this contest by the scruff of the neck and go all out for the crown.
Last week, I pointed out the coach’s reluctance to talk up his team’s chances and he has flat-out said that his players don’t seem to have the ballas or the kop to challenge.
But with comeback wins in the last week, he has got to admit that that argument can’t be used as a shield.
They are admittedly the dark horse but excuses for not giddying up his manne have now bolted from the stable.
The nature of their last two victories fly in the face of everything Benni has said about his team.
They were 2-0 down away to Wits and fought back in the second half to snatch the points, leaving Wits in the dirt.
SCORING TOUCH: Striker Kermit Erasmus. PHOTO: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Sundowns took a 13th-minute lead and City hung in there until mustering the will to hit back and turn the game around with just three minutes left.
And the winner nogal came from newcomer Chris David, who signed for City a week ago.
With the loss of influential midfield duo Thabo Nodada and Roland Putsche for the remainder of the campaign, there seemed even less hope for City midway through February.
But the addition of the former Premier League player and Dutch youth international and ex-Ajax Cape Town skipper Travis Graham, Benni and owner John Comitis have found some capable replacements.
There can be no doubt that City’s rivals are feeling the heat.
City, however, aren’t giving away anything with the biggest prize in South African football within their grasp.
Looking at the run-in, current leaders Orlando Pirates still have head-to-heads with Wits and Downs next month and those games will be massive in the deciding the final destination of the silverware.
CLEVER SIGNINGS: Club boss John Comitis. PHOTO: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix
Somewhere along the line, someone will drop points and City can pounce.
Benni is still playing their position down, saying that they will take it one game at a time.
And while the cliché rings true and is probably the wisest reply, you get the feeling that Benni is trying his best not to talk up their chances.
But for everyone at Hartleyvale, there is no way they can bury their heads in the sand.
Coach Benni may just be right in playing this the right way by telling his players to keep their heads down and blocking out all of the noise.
Because if they really look at their situation, with the MTN8 already under their belts and the Nedbank Cup and league title still on the horizon, the last thing they need is stars in their eyes.