Obinna Nsofor played 73 minutes in Saturday’s iKapa derby victory for his side, Cape Town City against Ajax Cape Town, but a mild drama between the Coaches on the sideline; rather than the result, has been the major talking point.
Ajax Cape Town coach Muhsin Ertugral described his opposite number, Benni McCarthy’s reaction during an incident and afterwards at full time as childish insisting the latter is still a baby who needs to grow up.
The Citizens made it four derby wins from four with a 1-0 victory over the Urban Warriors on Saturday with emotions spilling over after a refereeing blunder with 10 minutes to go.
With Kwanda Mngonyama ready to enter the pitch, the match officials allowed him on the field before Craig Martin left, causing an outcry from Ertugral who was fuming that his opponents had 12 men on the field, and called for a yellow card to be issued.
This incensed McCarthy, who stormed over to the Ajax box, having to be held back by the City bench before he was sent to the stands.
And Ertugral had some choice words for his counterpart in the post-match media conference.
“Benni needs to learn … he was a great player, but he also needs to learn how to behave a bit on the side,” the Turk started.
“There is a line [technical area]‚ why did they draw a line there? He came out of his line to my line and asked what I am doing. I don’t know what he is doing. He should ask himself that.
“I am long in this business and we put him out in the stands very quickly. Later on he wanted to explain to me certain things‚ but after the game for me these things are always over.
“That is there‚ in the 90 minutes. He will take time to learn‚ but he will.”
Ertugral says McCarthy tried to continue his argument in the tunnel after the game, with Ertugral feeling that the former Bafana Bafana striker was out of line.
“When I came out [of the field] he was waiting for me outside, Ertugral said. “I have a great respect for him‚ he is, in my opinion, a young boy that has achieved. How many players in South Africa have achieved what he has?
“There are two things in the football world that players want to achieve I think‚ win the World Cup and win the Champions League. He has achieved that.
“But after the game and I came out of the tunnel‚ he wanted to talk to me and I went to him and listened to him. He didn’t want to listen to what I had to say though, he wanted to go mad at me and I said, ‘If you want to go mad, I can’t help you’.
“Someone after asked if I was wrong, but they [City] had a couple more players on the field than us! The rule says very clearly‚ it’s a card. It’s my right to ask for it.
“This is football here‚ this is not an old pension home‚ we are playing a derby and I have a right to say that.
“Is he allowed [to speak]‚ because he played in the Champions League‚ and I am not allowed to speak? Does he have more rights than me‚ what is it?
“Then he gets out of his line and wants to explain something‚ so I say get back to your line there.
“There’s a line there, and you need to be in there. When you get out because you want to explain something‚ then I will complain that you are out there.
“After that, for me, it was finished, but he still wanted to carry on [after the game]. He needs to learn‚ he is still a baby … next time I will bring lollipops so he can play with it.”
The result leaves Ajax 15th on the log, with City up to second, four points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
