When Cape Town City appointed Dutch tactician Jan Vreman following their
relegation from the Betway Premiership, few could have predicted the turmoil
that awaited. The Citizens stumbled through their first six matches without
a single victory—three losses and three draws leaving them marooned in the
relegation zone with just three points.
Fast forward to the present, and the script could not have been more
dramatically rewritten. With only 11 matches remaining, City sit third in
the Motsepe Foundation Championship standings, just one point adrift of the
top two automatic promotion spots occupied by Milford FC and Kruger United.
Ahead of their pivotal clash against leaders Milford next Wednesday, PSLSA
examines the five key turning points that transformed a faltering campaign
into a promotion charge.
1. The Therlo Moosa Masterstroke
Signed as a free agent in October—nearly two months into the season—Moosa
arrived with something to prove after his departure from Cape Town Spurs.
His impact was instantaneous. The striker announced himself with a debut
goal in a hard-fought 3-2 away victory over Midlands Wanderers.
Since that afternoon, Moosa has added seven more strikes to his tally,
including a memorable hat-trick against Wanderers in their more recent
second-round encounter. Now joint-top scorer in the Championship with eight
goals, his signing represents one of the shrewdest pieces of business in the
division this season.
2. The Black Leopards Breakthrough
November 8 marked a watershed moment. City travelled to face Black Leopards
and returned with not only their first away victory of the season but also
their first clean sheet on the road. Jody Ah Shene—now on loan at University
of Pretoria from Mamelodi Sundowns—delivered the decisive 84th-minute
winner.
Remarkably, the Citizens have not tasted defeat since that afternoon. That
victory sparked an extraordinary 10-match unbeaten run that continues to
this day, propelling them from the depths of the table into genuine
promotion contention.
3. Defensive Fortitude
The Leopards victory triggered something more profound than merely ending a
winless run—it transformed City’s defensive identity. Led by the experienced
Lorenzo Gordinho at the heart of the backline, the Citizens embarked on a
remarkable sequence of five consecutive clean sheets heading into the Africa
Cup of Nations break.
Upon resumption, the defensive resilience has persisted, with three further
shutouts in five matches. The numbers tell a compelling story: before that
pivotal November evening, City had conceded 11 goals. Since then, they have
shipped just two. They currently boast the league’s meanest defence with
only 13 goals conceded all season.
4. Jaedin Rhodes’ Resurgence
Amid speculation linking the talented attacker with moves to the country’s
biggest clubs, City stood firm and refused to part with their prized asset.
That decision has proven inspired. Rhodes has responded with six goals this
term, emerging as a creative force and goal threat whose contributions have
been instrumental in the club’s remarkable ascent.
5. Strategic January Reinforcements and Timely Returns
Recognising the opportunity before them, City strengthened shrewdly during
the transfer window, securing the services of Miguel Timm and Dzenan
Zajmovic. Equally significant has been the return of Prins Tjiueza from a
lengthy injury layoff.
Tjiueza marked his comeback with a goal against Wanderers in February, while
Zajmovic opened his account in the most dramatic fashion—netting a crucial
winner against Lerumo Lions last weekend. These additions have injected
fresh quality and competition at precisely the right moment in the campaign.
What began as a nightmare season now carries the promise of immediate
redemption. With promotion firmly in their sights, Vreman’s men have
transformed adversity into opportunity—and the Championship’s automatic
promotion race is all the better for it.
