Cape Town City FC host Stellenbosch FC in the first Cape Derby of the 2021/22 DStv Premiership season at Athlone Stadium.
Date : 18 September 2021
Kick-off : 17h00
Venue : Athlone Stadium
Channel : Supersport PSL (202)
We now enter another stimulating and fresh installment of the Cape Derby that keeps improving in both quality and intensity. With both teams propelling one another to new levels of end product as well as development.
Thamsanqa Mkhize, Cape Town City FC Captain
“We know Stellenbosch are going come out firing but we are well prepared for the challenge ahead. We just want to give the best we can and hopefully take home the bragging rights”.
The fight for the number one spot in the Western Cape edges ever closer. The degree of excellence is heighten when these neighbour’s go to war. Win by all means because bragging rights is all that each team seeks. Each season the Cape Derby outshines its counterparts and demands recognition and respect.
Lee Langeveldt, Stellenbosch FC Captain
“City pose a big threat and we are the underdogs. But that doesn’t change that this is a Derby. The three points are up for the taking so we are going to Athlone with that in mind”.
Citizens : Pragmatic or Possesion?
The gold and blue army have always been a free scoring possesion based team even way before its reincarnation. Goals are spread evenly across the whole team but the leaky defence have been a constraint that Eric Tinkler is trying to clamp down on.
Coach Eric Tinkler, Cape Town City FC
“We want to continue the momentum going forward. It’s going to be an exciting derby. We want the bragging rights.”
“There’s never been a draw between us. Nothing will change this weekend. This will be a tough encounter indeed. Stellies bring a different challenge all together”.
In his first spell at City the team were a well oiled machine who moved as one and never gave the opposition any space. Now it’s about finding that balance and solutions in transition. Especially against a team that lives for open space and transition football that leaves your defence in sixes and sevens. How they set up in possesion will make it clear as to how and where they will launch their attacks. Quick short passing combinations combined with great unselfish running off the ball will stretch and open up this Stellies wall.
Same Old Stellenbosch or what?
What you see is what you get, but this time around the wine seems to taste more sweeter. Recognizing that they too need to add more levels if they are to live comfortably in the Top 8. A well organised team who keeps surprising us season after season. Aging really well and learning from each experience.
Coach Steve Baker, Stellenbosch FC
“It’s never easy playing against City. They’ve built a really strong squad, with good quality. We’re also growing and well get there. We just need to achieve step by step at our own pace”
“Emotions playing the Derby but we’ve got to be brave and compete because ultimately we want to challenge for titles as a club. That’s one of our goals. We need to get close to the clubs such as City”.
They are perfectly set up against a team that enjoys playing a highline and commits numbers. Making it ideal for counter attacks. Using their pace and space in behind as a way of negating the opponents. Maintaining a higher percentage of possesion than usual will help nullify the waves of attacks that City can bring on consistently.
Citizens or Stellies?
A tough one to call as each team have somewhat improved on their previous frailties that has prevented them from challenging for top honours. Adding a sprinkle of Tinkler to Gucci football is exactly what Cape Town City have been craving for. On the other side of the tracks you get this feeling that Stellenbosch is a powerhouse in the making. The more they in the league the better they will become. On the day every inch will be crucial and tactics and philosophies are a mere sideshow in the capturing of bragging rights especially for the supporters. All they want is the win.
Who will come out on top ?