By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Cape Town Spurs Football Club have appointed Sean Connor as the club’s technical director with immediate effect.
Connor is a UEFA pro license coach with extensive experience in various roles in the industry.
This is not Connor’s first time in South Africa and he had an undistinguished stint at Black Leopards in 2014. However, he lasted only two months at the club, never received his work permit.
Two years prior he spent six months at CAPS United in Zimbabwe, having previously coached clubs like Galway United, Dundalk, Bohemian and Sligo Rovers in his own country.
Spurs suffered their seventh straight defeat on Saturday, losing 3-1 to rivals Cape Town City in the iKapa derby, putting coach Shaun Bartlett future, hanging in the balance
An early goal by Ashley Cupido set the tone for the rest of the encounter. However, the Urban Warriors failed to make the most of their lead thereafter. A solid effort by Darwin Gonzalez from the spot levelled matters just before the break, while a brace by Khanyisa Mayo saw City secure maximum points in the derby.
While the Citizens held most of the ball during the opening exchanges of the game, it was Spurs who took the lead with their very first attacking move of the game.
In dispossessing City in the middle of the park, the Urban Warriors initiated a classic counter-attacking move as Ashley Cupido made no mistake with a calm finish inside the 18-yard area.
Eric Tinkler’s side continued to boss the possession count after conceding and actively searched for an equalizer. In soaking up the pressure, the Urban Warriors’ counter-attacking approach often troubled the City defence.
As the clock hit the 25-minute mark, City played most of their football inside Spurs’ half but struggled to make the most of their goal-scoring chances when going forward.
City were then awarded a penalty in the 40th minute, after the referee spotted a handball infringement by Rushwin Dortley inside the area. In stepping up to the spot, Darwin Gonzalez rifled the ball home through the fingertips of goalkeeper Sam Ramsbottom.
With the referee introducing the second half, the Urban Warriors looked the more enterprising side compared to their showing in the first 45, while City created a couple of goal-scoring chances in the process.
After an hour of football played at the DHL Stadium, Spurs looked lively going forward and provided City with a couple of nervy moments when playing on the back foot.
The Citizens kicked into gear as the 70th minute approached and subsequently took the lead courtesy of a clever effort by Khanyiso Mayo. As Gonzalez drove the ball down the left-hand flank, the South American attacker squared the ball toward the small box as Mayo’s near-post flick found the back of the net.
City knocked the final nail in the coffin five minutes from time, as Mayo completed his brace in the iKapa Derby. Again, City looked dangerous down the left wing as Mayo found himself in the right place at the right time to guide home a scrappy finish while tussling with Siyanda Msani inside the six-yard area.
Meanwhile Polokwane City climbed into the top half of the DStv Premiership table after they claimed a deserved 1-0 victory over Royal AM at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday evening.