Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy says his players are hungry like lions ready to prey on wounded animals as they prepare to host Kaizer Chiefs at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, writes DYLAN APPOLIS. 

The Citizens are currently placed seventh in the Absa Premiership standings with five points, having won just one game from their opening four, while Amakhosi are yet to register their first win in the league and occupy 13th place with four points after five games.

McCarthy says his side will show Amakhosi the respect they deserve but will give them no mercy as the Mother City-based outfit look to claim their second win in the league by securing maximum points on home soil.

Chiefs are winless in their opening five league matches‚ the worst start to a league season in the club’s history‚ and former Orlando Pirates striker McCarthy is eager to pile on the misery.

‘We have 11 hungry lions that want to eat and there is a wounded animal on the other side‚’ McCarthy said.

‘We back ourselves‚ we respect them for what they have done in the past. But they have 11 players and so do we.

‘Chiefs is always one of the biggest teams in our Absa Premiership‚ whether they have good or bad moments. They have the majority of fans.

‘We like to say we are the Davids [vs Goliath] when we go up against Orlando Pirates‚ Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns. But people don’t look at us anymore as the David‚ we are giant-slayers.’

The former Orlando Pirates striker says that he is fortunate enough to have a chairman like John Comitis, who does not pressurise him to do his job, which makes it easier for him to focus on his players.

‘I know the game from a football perspective‚ I have gone and studied and that has helped me understand that you face a lot of things being in charge of the team.

‘It is about the environment that you are in. I can just do my job and that is to coach players.

‘When you speak to other colleagues in this league‚ you find that they are 24/7 under pressure to deliver.

‘I have the luxury of not having to worry that I didn’t win this weekend and think “I have two games to save my a**” or something like that.

‘I am fortunate in that department‚ it allows you just to work and focus 100% on the players.’

Cape Town City will welcome Kaizer Chiefs to Cape Town Stadium when they lock horns in the Absa Premiership on Saturday with kick-off set for 3pm.

Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix