Cape Town City has officially parted ways with head coach Muhsin Ertugral, bringing an end to his short-lived tenure at the club.
The decision follows a difficult spell for the team, which is currently stuck in a frustrating 10-match winless streak.
In an official statement, the club confirmed that both parties agreed to go their separate ways after careful technical discussions.
“The decision comes as a collective in the best interest of the club as we look to end the 24/25 season as strong as possible,” the statement read.
The club also expressed gratitude for Ertugral’s efforts, acknowledging his professional commitment.
A Sudden End to a Temporary Role
The 65-year-old coach was initially brought in on a short-term basis with the possibility of transitioning into a technical director role at the end of the season.
However, given the team’s struggles and failure to turn things around, those plans have now been scrapped entirely.
Instead of moving into a behind-the-scenes position, Ertugral has now completely severed ties with the club, leaving the future direction of Cape Town City uncertain as they attempt to salvage their season.
Ertugral Shares Emotional Message with Fans
Following his departure, the veteran coach took to social media to share his emotions and reflect on his journey.
His message was filled with raw honesty, highlighting the highs and lows that come with professional football.
“Professional football can give you everything, then take more than you ever expected,” he wrote.
“The cheers fade, the spotlight moves on, but the pain stays.”
He went on to speak about the challenges that players and coaches face beyond the pitch, stating, “Broken bodies, blurred memories, and the weight of what the game never shows.
Those are the truths players carry long after the final whistle.”
His parting words seemed to suggest that the toughest challenges don’t always come during the match but often behind the scenes.
“It’s the people you trust who turn away when the lights go out,” he concluded.
Can Cape Town City Recover Before the End of the Season?
With Ertugral gone, the big question now is whether Cape Town City can turn things around in their remaining fixtures.
The team currently sits in 13th place in the Betway Premiership, far from where they hoped to be at this stage of the season.
Their recent 1-0 home defeat against Marumo Gallants only added to their woes, and they now face an uphill battle to finish in the top eight.
The Cityzens trail eighth-placed Kaizer Chiefs by six points, with only seven matches left to fight for a spot in next season’s MTN 8.
Failing to finish in the top eight would mark the first time in the club’s history that they end outside of this crucial bracket.
With time running out, do they have what it takes to turn things around?