CT City boost defence with new signing

Chairman John Comitis has moved quickly to shore up CT City’s backline after Friday’s less-than satisfactory 1-0 win over Ajax.

Cape Town City’s players, management and fans could enjoy Heritage Day after winning Friday night’s local derby over Ajax, but they aren’t resting on their laurels.

After coach Eric Tinkler expressed his unhappiness with City’s performance, particularly in defence, in the 1-0 victory over the Urban Warriors at the Cape Town Stadium, chairman John Comitis moved quickly to shore up the backline.

City announced on Sunday that they have signed defensive midfielder Thamsanqa Mkhize “to bolster our already strong squad”. The 28-year-old Mkhize was involved in a dispute with Orlando Pirates in the off-season after the Buccaneers signed him from Maritzburg United at the end of the league campaign.

But once Muhsin Ertugral was appointed, Pirates reportedly cancelled the contract, and Mkhize was left without a club.

However, Tinkler and City have snapped up the experienced Mkhize, who spent three seasons at Maritzburg and began his professional career at Golden Arrows for four seasons.

Tinkler said on Friday night that he wasn’t pleased about the display against Ajax Cape Town despite gaining the three points after Bhongolethu Jayiya struck in the 21st minute following a superb cross by Thato Mokeke.

“I thought it was a game with way too many mistakes on our part, both offensively and defensively. We gave the ball away very cheaply and our clearances were poor. Allowing (Ajax striker Nathan) Paulse way too much time to win the headers and then picking up the second ball, which I explained before,” Tinkler said.

“Towards the end there, we were allowing them to play the balls into the box, which was always going to be a threat and a danger. Then going forward, the chances you create, you don’t put it in the back of the net. We could’ve ended up possibly even losing this, never mind the draw.”

City’s back-four of Vincent Kobola, Tshepo Gumede, Mokeke and Ebrahim Seedat scrambled well, but Ajax had a number of scoring opportunities in the last quarter of the match.

Mpho Matsi was utilised as a defensive midfielder by City, but he was excellent on pushing up on attack, although that may have left a few gaps in front of the back-four.

Left back Seedat was the pick of the defenders and was voted as the official Man of the Match on the night.

But Tinkler will hope that Mkhize’s arrival will give him extra defensive options ahead of City’s next game against Highlands Park at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa on Tuesday night (7.30pm kickoff).

– ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za

@ashfakmohamed