Cape Town City ended their seven-game winless run in the Absa Premiership in style against AmaZulu and coach Benni McCarthy admits that he had to give the players tough love.

Goals by Taariq Fielies, Siphelele Mthembu and Thabo Nodada saw the Citizens claim only their second league victory – their first since match-day one when they claimed a 2-0 victory against SuperSport United.

After winning the MTN8 final, City failed to win their next three games, but a dominant performance at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night saw the Citizens get back to winning ways.

‘When you are on such an awful run and you have just come back from winning the MTN8 and it is free falling‚ you start to doubt yourself and your qualities‚ and maybe whether you are cut out for this,’ McCarthy told the media after the game.

‘But we did have heart-to-hearts and everybody said what they needed to say.

‘The players got their say‚ I got my say and the chairman also came in and had a little go at everyone‚ coaches and players all included.

‘Then you see the attitude and the quality in training to improve and I’m thinking‚ “why does it need for us to have a proper heart-to-heart for the players to apply themselves in that way?”‘

Benni heaped praised on his starting XI as well the substitutes for their intensity throughout the clash.

‘Today was just phenomenal‚ the unity‚ what we are trying to build here‚ everything fell into place. The players on the bench‚ they got involved and were giving instructions to the players on the field … it was nice to see.

‘We played some beautiful football … but I do not want us to become this toothless great white shark that everybody fears but then they realise this shark cannot bite.

‘People must look and when they are in the sea‚ everybody must be wary.

‘Today we put our teeth in and showed some bite. Hopefully we continue in this form‚ we have a nice run of games where we avoid Chiefs‚ Pirates and Sundowns,’ he concluded.

The Citizens will resume their league campaign when they take on Black Leopards on 11 November‚ before making trips to Polokwane City and Highlands Park‚ and home meetings with Chippa United and Bloemfontein Celtic to round out the year.

Photo: Gallo Images