Home Sport Cape Town City out to turn season around in Cape derby

Cape Town City out to turn season around in Cape derby

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A win against their local rivals will also be morale boosting as it will come against an in-form side who are unbeaten in 11 games, dating back to last season.

Wayde Lekay of Cape Town City is challenged by Thabo Moloisane of Maritzburg United during the DStv Premiership 2022/23 game. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky, BackpagePix

CAPE Town City have been one of the early-season shocks so far this season. City enter tomorrow’s Cape derby against Stellenbosch FC at the bottom of the Premiership standings after having lost three of their four games to date.

After finishing second in the league last season, not many would have expected Eric Tinkler’s team to start off the new campaign with such woeful performances.

City can, however, still turn things around if they start off by beating Stellenbosch this weekend.

A win against their local rivals will also be morale boosting as it will come against an in-form side who are unbeaten in 11 games, dating back to last season.

One City player who will be looking to make a quick impact is centre-forward Wayde Lekay. The 25-year-old returned to the province of his birth his week after having joined City from TS Galaxy.

“I’m excited to join a team in my home town,” said Lekay.

“I can contribute a lot in terms of scoring and creating goals. I would like to help take us out of this position and also help the club be strong in continental football in the Caf Champions League.

“I’m happy to be joining and am excited for the new journey

At 25, the time is right for Lekay to improve his game as he enters the peak of his years as a player.

It does appear that Tinkler has a lot of faith in him. Lekay was not the most prolific player in the top flight for Galaxy last season, as he only scored four goals and contributed one assist in 17 games.

However, at City there will be hope that he can improve in a new environment, in front of the surroundings where he grew up.

Stellenbosch are unbeaten in their four games this season and can take positives from their displays.

Coach Steve Barker’s side have continued to play a solid brand of football even though they have been affected by injuries and the departures of key players such as Zitha Kwinika, Ashley Du Preez, Nathan Sinkala and Stanley Dimgba.

On the other hand, City could be impacted by the blow of losing goalkeeper Hugo Marques.

Marques, a former FC Porto youth player, was heroic for Tinkler’s side last season. He won the PSL Goalkeeper of the Season award and was a key reason the team finished second and qualified for the Champions League.

Marques has since resurfaced at Angolan club Petro de Luanda. His departure was probably unexpected considering its timing. Tinkler has since said the reason for the departure was due to the player’s choice for personal reasons.

Darren Keet will step into Marques’ shoes.

The veteran goalkeeper started the club’s draw against Maritzburg United and has the potential to re-establish himself as one of the best keepers in South Africa.

However, he will have to regain match fitness quickly, considering that he has not played much in the past three years and was blighted by injuries last season, which caused him to miss out on the majority of the campaign.

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