Ertugral’s Appointment Bring Horrible Nightmares To Mkhize
The appointment of Muhsin Ertugral as Cape Town City’s head coach has brought mixed emotions for the club, particularly for skipper Thami Mkhize.
Mkhize and Ertugral previously shared a strained relationship during their time together at Golden Arrows, leading the former Bafana Bafana defender to leave the club and join Maritzburg United (now Durban City) in 2013.
When Mkhize’s dream move to join Orlando Pirates happened in the 2016/17 season, it was rumored that it was blocked at the last minute by Ertugral, who was Pirates coach at the time, with Mkhize training at Virgin Active and not with the team.
As Mkhize’s move to Pirates fell through, he trained with City, and former coach Eric Tinkler was impressed and signed him.
This after City chairman John Comitis had purchased the status of Mpumalanga Aces, with the club impressing by finishing in the top eight in the 2015/16 season under Ertugral.
Lebogang Manyama, who is now the club’s assistant coach, was playing for Aces before he moved to City.
Mkhize and Thabo Nodada are the longest-serving members of City, but Nodada is the only sole survivor of Aces and also the City side that started in the 2016/17 season.
Impressively, Nodada made his PSL debut under Ertugral at Black Aces. Nodada scored two goals in 20 appearances under Ertugral and knows fully well the short fuse the Turkish coach does show on the bench.
Ertugral was appointed on Thursday after City parted ways with coach Tinkler on 31 December, with the Turkish coach having strong ties with chairman Comitis during their time together at Cape Town Spurs.
“I would say it is a fresh start working under a new coach,” said Mkhize.
“So, we just had our first session with our new coach on Friday and you could see the excitement from players because I believe we all stand a fair chance of getting an opportunity because I don’t think the new coach knows everyone.
“As much as he has worked with some of us, but that doesn’t mean that you are already in the team. So, you have to pull up your socks, especially knowing that we are not sitting in a comfortable position. We have to make sure that we collect maximum points and move up the ladder.”
The first game for coach Ertugral will be against his former club Chiefs at DHL Stadium on Sunday (17:45). City is lying 12th in the Betway Premiership table with 11 points after 10 matches, having won just three.
Ertugral had successful stints with Chiefs – winning the Bob Save Super Bowl in 2000, the CAF Confederation Cup, the BP Top 8, Coca-Cola Cup – all in 2001 in his first stint. In his second stint, he claimed the Telkom Knockout in 2007/08 and the MTN8 in the 2008/09 season. He was named the PSL Coach of the Season in the 2006/07 campaign at Cape Town Spurs.
“A game against Chiefs, it is always difficult for us,” said Mkhize, who has since featured in 257 matches for City and scored nine goals in the process.
“But considering that we are playing at home and we want to move from position 12th into a respectable position, so I’m looking forward to that game and I’m sure even my team-mates are positive that we are going to apply ourselves whatever tactics that the coach is implementing on the team. I’m hoping that on Sunday we will come out victorious.”
