City New Striker To Miss Pirates Clash

Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler has confirmed that new signing Amadou Soukouna is unlikely to be available for the first leg of the MTN8 semifinal against Orlando Pirates at DHL Stadium on Tuesday.

The striker, who was officially unveiled on Thursday, is still awaiting the processing of his work permit.

Tinkler expressed hope that Soukouna would be ready for the second leg of the MTN8 on 31 August. “Amadou, as I said, only arrived on Sunday, and now it’s a process of work permit,” Tinkler explained. “We are hoping we can get all of that done and dusted by the second leg. So, he will be ready then.”

Soukouna, a former player of Tinkler at Maritzburg United, replaces Khanyisa Mayo, who departed for RC Belouizdad. While both players are strikers, they possess different playing styles. Soukouna prefers to drop deeper and link up with teammates, while Mayo was more of a traditional out-and-out striker.

Defender Lorenz Gordinho is also uncertain for the MTN8 semifinal due to a broken nose suffered in the quarterfinal against Sekhukhune United. Carlinhos, another recent signing, will be out until February or March due to a knee injury. Midfielder Thabo Nodada is also recovering from an injury and is expected to return in October.

“Thabo Nodada has started field training or running,” Tinkler revealed. “So, we are looking around October for his full recovery.”

Keano Cupido, Nodada and captain Thami Mkhize are the only remaining players from Cape Town City’s 2018/19 MTN8-winning squad under coach Benni McCarthy on penalties at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Interestingly, Tinkler won the MTN8 title with SuperSport United in the previous season, defeating his current club in a penalty shootout at the same venue in Durban.

Pictures courtesy of Cape Town City