Ertugral’s Appointment Sparks Troubling Nightmares for Mkhize

The decision to appoint Muhsin Ertugral as the head coach of Cape Town City has sparked a variety of reactions within the organization, especially from captain Thami Mkhize.

Mkhize and Ertugral have a complex relationship stemming from their time at Golden Arrows, which prompted the former Bafana Bafana defender to leave for Maritzburg United (now Durban City) back in 2013.

During the 2016/17 season, as Mkhize was on the verge of completing a dream transfer to Orlando Pirates, it became known that Ertugral, who was coaching Pirates at that moment, intervened unexpectedly, forcing Mkhize to train at Virgin Active instead of with the squad.

After the failed move to Pirates, Mkhize went on to train with Cape Town City, where he caught the eye of former coach Eric Tinkler, who subsequently signed him.

This acquisition followed shortly after City chairman John Comitis secured the status of Mpumalanga Aces, whose team notably finished in the top eight of the 2015/16 season under Ertugral’s guidance.

Currently, Lebogang Manyama serves as the club’s assistant coach, having previously played for Aces before his stint at City.

While Mkhize and Thabo Nodada are the longest-tenured players at City, Nodada remains the sole player still with the club from the original Aces and City roster from the 2016/17 season.

It’s worth mentioning that Nodada made his PSL debut under Ertugral at Black Aces, where he scored two goals in 20 matches, and he is well-acquainted with the Turkish coach’s unpredictable demeanor during games.

Ertugral was appointed on Thursday after coach Tinkler parted ways with the club on December 31, establishing a solid relationship with chairman Comitis, rooted in their past experiences at Cape Town Spurs.

“I see it as a new beginning with a different coach,” Mkhize stated.

“We had our first training session with our new coach on Friday, and the players were clearly excited because we recognize this is a great opportunity to show our skills while the new coach is still getting to know the team.

“Even though he has previously worked with some of us, that doesn’t assure anyone a spot in the lineup. It’s crucial for us to enhance our performance, especially given our precarious situation. We must focus on collecting points and improving our standings.”

Ertugral’s inaugural match in charge will be against his former team Chiefs at DHL Stadium on Sunday (17:45). Currently, City sits 12th in the Betway Premiership table with 11 points from 10 matches, having secured only three victories.

During his time with Chiefs, Ertugral achieved significant success, including winning the Bob Save Super Bowl in 2000, along with the CAF Confederation Cup, BP Top 8, and Coca-Cola Cup in 2001. In his second stint, he clinched the Telkom Knockout in the 2007/08 season and the MTN8 in the 2008/09 season. He also earned the PSL Coach of the Season title during the 2006/07 season while coaching Cape Town Spurs.

“Matches against Chiefs are always a challenge for us,” remarked Mkhize, who has made 257 appearances for City and netted nine goals.

“Nevertheless, since we are competing at home and aiming to climb from our 12th place to a more respectable position, I’m genuinely excited for this match. I believe my teammates share this optimism, and we will execute the strategies outlined by the coach. I am hopeful for a win on Sunday.”

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