Cape Town City FC sprung back to winning ways with a bang following seven (7) games without a win. The 5-3 victory came at the expense of Polokwane City found wanting Wednesday night in Cape Town. The huge goal-fest win follows immediately on the heels of the club sacking coach Benni McCarthy officially on Monday. CT City have brought in a Dutch football mentor in lieu of McCarthy’s dead-end. Caretaker coach Vasili Manousakis oversaw The Citizens‘ second win of the 2019/20 season in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
In a thrill-a-minute Absa Premiership face off, Cape Town City FC came out of their cumbersome shells and pulled off an incredible 5-3 victory against Polokwane City at Cape Town Stadium Wednesday Nov. 6, 2019.
The Citizens‘ second win of the 2019/20 league season came under interim coach Vasili Manousakis at the back of CT City dismissing its head coach Benni McCarthy earlier this week. The European Champions League medalist [McCarthy] was axed due to a string of poor results.
Kermit Erasmus with a brace [6′, 45+2′,] was the shining star of the night for CT City with a hat-trick. So was Charlton Mashumba with a hat-trick [22′, 87′, 90+4′] for the losing Rise And Shine playing away from home.
The other three goals for The Citizens came from Sphelele Mthembu [12′], Mpho Makola [71′] and Edmilson Dove [74′].
To succeed Benni McCarthy, Cape Town City FC announced yesterday Dutch coach Jan Olde Riekerink as their new man in charge.
Benni McCarthy’s stay at Cape Town City coaching position
McCarthy won only one league match [Stellenbosch FC] this season back in Aug. 10, 2019 at Athlone Stadium. He lost three (3) and drew five (5)games. When he left, CT City were on eight (8) points, and had scored 13 and conceded 15 league goals.
Under his watch, CT City were booted out [0-2] in the first round of the MTN Top8 Cup by Polokwane City at Newlands Stadium on August 27 this year. McCarthy won this cup in 2018 and finished second in 2017. Notably, his biggest accomplishments at the club.
The Telkom Knock-out Cup was no different. The Citizens lost 4-2 on penalties to Kaizer Chiefs after the full 90 minutes and extra-time 1-1 deadlock last month, Oct. 17.
In the 2018/19 season, McCarthy’s charges finished on a comfortable fourth spot on the log with 48 points. With 55 points – five (5) points shy from the league winners Bidvest Wits – CT City ended third (3rd) in the 2017/18 Absa Premiership edition, his derby season in the PSL as a head coach.
Benni McCarthy was oppointed CT City head coach in 2017 soon after Eric Tinkler voluntarily left the club for SuperSport United. Upon his sacking, McCarthy said he was “disappointed” at his exit from the Cape Town-based club.