More questions about Cape Town City’s technical team as side matches relegation strugglers

IT is strange what is happening at Cape Town City. The side that had built itself a reputation of a Top4 finish or better in the Premiership, dropped to 10th place on the log after their 2-0 loss to Chippa United at home on Tuesday.

A rare scorer Sinoxolo Kwayiba helped himself to a brace at the Athlone Stadium, leaving City interim coach and technical director Muhsin Ertugral pointing fingers to his side’s lack of confidence in a post match interview.

“These are the times that coaching is the most difficult. I think in the first 20 minutes the game could have been over,” said Ertugral on SuperSport TV of his side’s missed chances.

“This has happened now a couple of times, and you can see mentally how our shoulders drop.

“We tried to find solutions with our substitutions, but this didn't happen.

“Even when we had a clear-cut opportunity in the dying minutes, we couldn’t even score that one. That’s our situation.”

Ertugral was unveiled in January at the Cape side after the sacking of long-term coach Eric Tinkler.

Ertugral, a reputable tactician, is assisted by Diogo Peral and former Cityzens’ captain Lebogang Manyama. Both Peral and Manyama were part of Tinkler’s technical team.

The loss to Chippa was Cape Town City’s ninth of the league so far this season.

Now that is remarkably lousy by City’s standards it matches the losing ratio of the sides fighting relegation like Marumo Gallants, Richards Bay FC and Magesi FC - all of whom had played a match or two fewer than the side from the Cape by Tuesday night.

It was City’s second consecutive loss of the period and the fifth match on the trot without a win.

This was Ertugral’s ninth match in all competitions and the 10th match is not promising any change of fortunes as they go to title challengers Orlando Pirates on Saturday.

Of course Pirates they beat in Ertugral’s second match in charge after he opened with a Kaizer Chiefs’ scalp, but right now that looks like it was nothing more than the motivation of having a new coach for the players.

Nothing more than a matter of a “new broom sweeping clean”..

Ertugral was given the interim coach position up to the end of the season. Judging by current events, that was a good thing.

A few questions remain though; who is to blame for the current poor results, that is one.

The second one is; since City clearly need to appoint a new coach for the next season, was it ever a good idea to keep Peral and Manyama when Tinkler left? Should they remain when the new coach comes in?

Another one is; should the side maybe undergo a whole technical team overhaul come end of the season? And by whole, that includes the Turk as well.

We are talking here about the team that was the busiest in the preseason transfer window, signing no less than 18 new players.

Among those players there are the likes of Fortune Makaringe, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Haashim Domingo and an Angolan-Portuguese midfielder Carlinhos.

Whatever needs to happen at City by the end of the season, right now they had better find a quick solution, or else...