TEKO Modise will not only be Cape Town City’s new star player when the season kicks off next month – he will be like a father figure to his new teammates.
Modise, the former Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns skipper, said he was looking forward to working with his new teammates, especially the likes of new signing Ayanda Patosi and club captain Lebogang Manyama.
Manyama was voted PSL Footballer of the Season and Absa Premiership Players’ Player of the Season at the PSL Awards this week.
But the 34-year-old midfielder nicknamed “The General” said he joined City to help them win the Absa Premiership title next season.
City finished third and claimed the Telkom Knockout last season.
“I’ve made the right choice. I chose City because they are an ambitious club with an ambitious chairman in John Comitis. I can’t wait to be part of new head coach Benni McCarthy’s side when we kick off our new campaign next month,” he said.
McCarthy and Modise are old friends, having both captained their country and played together for Bafana.
Said Modise: “The reason I left Sundowns (after six years) was because I wanted more playing time and City will give me that new challenge. I can’t wait to get going.”
Modise decided he had more to offer when he opted to leave Sundowns after helping the Chloorkop based outfit win all the trophies on offer domestically. He capped that by being part of the Downs side that won the 2016 Caf Champions League and the Caf Super Cup earlier this year.
He added: “I really like what I see here. I believe we can finish higher than last season. Can we win the league? Nothing is impossible. That’s our goal – winning the league. That’s why I joined City, as they have the potential.”
Modise said Patosi, who played at Lokeren in Belgium before joining City recently, would be one of the players he would take under his wing.
Explained Modise: “Ayanda has a lot of talent. He is a class player, good technically and I’m going to help him all I can. I’m looking forward to playing with him.”
Modise said he was also impressed by Manyama: “Lebo is already a star. It’s going be brilliant playing alongside him. There are so many good players here. That’s another reason why I’m here.”
He also said McCarthy would be a success: “Benni is a winner. It will be great working for him. I will do all I can to help where I can. This is going to be a really interesting season. I can’t wait to get started.”
Comitis added: “The fact Teko said it did not worry that he won’t get to wear his famous No 10 jersey at City as it is taken showed me I signed the right man to guide us to more success.”
Modise will wear the lucky No 13 jersey this upcoming season.
