CT City sweating on fitness of key duo

Cape Town City are sweating on the fitness of key stars Surprise Ralani and Thabo Nodada ahead of their Nedbank Cup last-32 clash with fellow DStv Premiership side Bloemfontein Celtic on Saturday.

Nodada went off early in Sunday’s 1-1 away draw with Baroka FC, while Ralani was the victim of a vicious tackle late in the game.

“The second half against Baroka FC, it became very a physical game, and there was a horrible foul on Surprise [Ralani],” City’s Dutch coach Jan Olde Riekerink told reporters. “For now it looks like not a very bad injury, but I have doubts he will make it for the game on Saturday. Thabo [Nodada] came out of that game early after a small collision. He has not been training and I am not sure he will make it.”

City went out in the last 32 at the hands of second-tier Mbombela United in 2020, and will at least know more about their top-tier opponent, who they have already beaten 4-2 in the league in Cape Town in November.

“For us, it is important that we are playing in Cape Town and don’t have to travel. It is a challenging opponent in Celtic, they have a good team and a good dynamic. But playing at home is the biggest benefit,” the coach said.

“We have tried to give the group as much rest as is possible, to have one or two days off. We had a short stop [festive season break], and you have to manage it in the weeks where you can give them time off.

“But we want to win this Nedbank Cup, I know how important it can be for the club and players to win something. You win five games and you have something on your CV. At the end of your career, it is about what it is on your CV and not just in your pocket [money].

“I have told my players, at the end of your career you must look back and one of the things that is beautiful is if you win trophies. It lasts for your whole life. That should be your main target.

“As a consequence, you also get to go into Africa and play against different clubs with contrasting styles [in the Caf Confederation Cup], and that would be a great experience.”