Having defeated Kaizer Chiefs in their last game of the previous season, Cape Town City chairman John Comitis is excited about new season which is scheduled to start this coming weekend.
The club's head coach Eric Tinkler and the team are almost done with the preparations for the 2023/24 DStv Premiership campaign, with the Mother City side set to take on the league's returnees Polokwane City in their opener.
Comitis has been impressed with the effort put in by the big guns in their preparations and is expecting an exciting season after defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns toured the Netherlands, Orlando Pirates having recently returned from Spain, while Kaizer Chiefs had been in Tanzania and Botswana respectively to play competitive friendly games.
The Good
"I don't know if you're getting the feeling but there seems to be a lot more happening in the PSL. A lot more excitement between the clubs whether it's about the new kit, whether it's about the signings and movement of players, I get the sense that it's like a refresh almost. Perhaps it's a belief that the big guns could come and challenge this season again. They're certainly preparing themselves, so we're very excited about the new season," said Comitis who is hoping for momentum for his team after finishing the previous season on a high.
The Bad
Players leaving for the MLS and other leagues
"You know, there's an understanding that clubs have now realised… we cannot keep on just increasing salaries on the top end. Our grant has remained the same for the last four years, I don't know if you guys know that. Everybody's salary has gone up, costs have gone up, rentals are going up of the stadiums and our grant has remained the same. To remain competitive, you have to recycle players. Players in the top end are earning R2 million plus and you've got a youngster who's on R400 000 – R500 000 and everyone weekend is running amok on the pitch. Play him and see what happens. Then you realise that he is just as capable. Surely, he doesn't have the maturity but if you know how to balance that you then can bring players through. But there is no doubt that there is a high focus from the globe to find young talent now that by 22 if you haven't moved them to those kinds of clubs then you're looking at the Middle East, MLS, Saudi," he said.
The Ugly
Pressure on coaches to play youngsters and firing of coaches
"I push the coaches, there is no doubt. We push the coaches to encourage them to not fear to play the younger players. That's more the way we do it, we don't say play a player because we want to create value. If I go and lose, let me lose 3-2, I don't want to lose 1-0 because I didn't try to win. So, I've always had that attitude with anything I do with football. You find young players coming relentless and with less fear for some reason and they play off the cuff, and you see something. If you don't give them a chance, you don't see it. Always find an excuse as to why you don't want to play a young player and I don't blame the coaches and I understand why they do it. In this country, firing coaches is like changing your trousers everyday. We lose three, four or five games and we're ready to fire the coach," the boss said.
What we need to do…
"What we need to do is to give them (coaches) a platform where they are confident to play these players because you want a better Bafana and that's not going to come from 30-year-olds. It's not going to come from bringing back the (Ayanda) Patosis, who are very capable, but it's not going to come from that," said Comitis.
Will City challenge the big guns for the title?
