‘Tis a season to be jolly unless you’re as worried as I am about Cape Town’s PSL clubs.
It hasn’t been good a year for Cape Town City, who had held things down in the top flight over the last few years.
Their struggles this year saw the dismissal of the Cape’s favourite son Benni McCarthy as the Citizens’ head coach.
Their record was two wins from their last 18 matches, which basically meant that they didn’t finish last season well and things didn’t improve in the new campaign.
There were injuries to key members of the team and the new signings were either just not kicking on or those who got chances to play weren’t making a difference.
So things came undone after three years of striking it lucky, thanks to some shrewd business behind the scenes, some luck and good chemistry between the players that were brought together at the 11th hour.
CHANGE: Jan Olde Riekerink. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix.
The expectations have been high because City got us all used to them playing exciting football that brought titles to the Mother City.
But even the coaching changes haven’t made a difference, because the new coach has yet to see his players score a single goal since he took charge.
They scored five under assistant coach Vasili the last time they won, a 5-3 victory over Polokwane City. However, the very next game a few days later, they lost 2-1 against Black Leopards.
They have a bit of time to work something out, as a trip away to Wits is coming up and that will be the last match this year.
Meanwhile, it was a breath of fresh air to have a team from the Winelands come up to the big leagues.
If you had experienced Stellenbosch play their home matches at the Idas Valley Stadium during their league title winning season last term, you would also be excited about them in the PSL.
The area is famous for producing pacy players in rugby, so imagine if even the B-Grade of that talent choosing Diski instead of ragga was just so exciting.
They are also famous for producing massive rugby forwards, so I was also keen to see if the area could produce a Bakkies Botha-type of player with the football skills of former national player Ryan Botha.
CRISIS: Stellies' Nyiko Mobbie. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix.
But things have just not happened for the reigning NFD champs, despite bringing in a host of players to add experience to their mix.
I’m not sure if it’s the clearout they made to their backroom staff that has hurt them, but things have just not clicked and Stellies are sitting bottom of the table.
Look, there’s still hope because it’s really tight in terms of points difference. It’s really crazy what a difference another win for Stellies will do. They could literally climb up to 11th place.
If City win, they could go up to ninth, so it’s not all that bad.
But games in hand are not guaranteed, so we need the ouens to finish strong this year and come back motivated from the festive season.