Cape Town City extends contracts of key duo Manyama and Ngoma for a further four years

Cape Town City have received a major boost with the news that the club has extended the contracts of key duo Lebogang Manyama and Aubrey Ngoma for a further four years.

The pair have been crucial to the Mother City club’s excellent start to the season that has seen them top the log for much of the campaign and also claim the Telkom Knockout trophy.

Club captain Manyama‚ in particular‚ has been in the form of his life‚ with nine goals and a number of assists in all competitions‚ leading to rumours that the big clubs of Gauteng were interested in his services.

But City have moved swiftly to quash those by announcing on Wednesday they have signed new deals with the duo to keep them with the team until the 2020/21 season.

“With the ambitions and exciting plans for Cape Town City in the near future‚ it was an easy decision for Aubrey and Lebo to stay‚ as they are determined to play integral parts in this journey‚” City owner John Comitis said.

• High-flying Cape Town City will make signingsHigh-flying Cape Town City are hoping to add numbers to their squad this month and will be taking players on trial‚ but coach Eric Tinkler is tight-lipped about their identity. 

“Our players are at the top of their game because they are happy‚ motivated and love the club.

"The team plays for one another and therefore plays without fear.

"When “in-demand” players like Aubrey and Lebo make a statement and long-term commitment like this you begin to understand just how powerful and unified this team is becoming.

"This sends a clear message that Cape Town City is a club for the future‚ one that strives to play a dynamic brand of football‚ keeping the talent necessary to compete for trophies every season.”

Comitis says he is determined his team will not become a “selling club”‚ a dig perhaps at neighbours Ajax Cape Town‚ who regularly lose their top talent to bigger teams.

“The idea of "cashing in" is not part of our strategy.

"We are not a selling club‚ we are here to win.

"Our fans and trophy cabinet are what is ultimately important as we strive to bring fan culture and pride back to the Mother City.”

• Cape Town City upset the odds in 2016‚ with Tinkler finally rewarded for his workaholic ethicTo many‚ the rise of Cape Town City in the first half of this season and the success of their coach‚ Eric Tinkler‚ has been a surprise … but should it be? 

City coach Eric Tinkler has been further boosted by the return to fitness of striker Lehlohonolo Majoro‚ who had been missing since the end of November with a calf strain.

The Austrian Roland Putsche has also been able to resume training after it was feared he could miss the re-start of the league campaign in February.

City will host Highlands Park on February 7 before a crunch local Derby against Ajax four days later.

 - TMG Digital