Muhsin Ertugral has addressed his sacking from Cape Town City FC following a poor run of form that led to his departure after just three months at the club.
The former Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates tactician was shown the exit door a few weeks ago after failing to turn CT City’s fortunes in the Betway Premiership.
Ertugral was appointed as the CT City’s interim coach in January 2025 to replace Eric Tinkler, who was fired at the end of last year. Initially, the Turkish mentor was brought to the Citizens as the Technical Director [TD] before taking over the coaching job on an interim basis. However, he was let go before serving in his original position.
During his short stint with CT City, Ertugral was in charge of 13 league matches. He won three games, drew three and lost on seven occasions. Cape Town City was also knocked out of the Nedbank Cup Last 32 by Sekhukhune United under the guidance of Muhsin Ertugral.
CT City are currently in the relegation zone. They’re sitting 14th on the Premiership table with 24 points from 24 matches.
MUHSIN ERTUGRAL WAS NOT EXPECTING TO BE FIRED
The well-travelled coach says he was not expecting to part ways with CT City because of the personal conversations he used to have with the club chairman, John Comitis.
“I didn’t expect that [being fired] at all because we had these meetings about players, the tactical work and the way forward, sometimes on the phone with John,” Muhsin Ertugral told Soccer Beat Podcast.
“We never left any stone unturned. After our last loss against Magesi FC, John Comitis said it was heartbreaking to lose to a team that’s behind us because we had 70% of the ball position.
“John was saying I hug every player after we lost, of course, I have to do that because we’re not animals, and you can see that the boys did try their best. One right decision would have given us goals. I always say that the responsibility of the team that is not doing well never goes up [to management], it always falls onto the feet of the coach.
“So whatever you do as a coach, it’s either you’re going to be successful or you won’t be successful. It’s an in or out situation.”
Meanwhile, the Cape Town-based side have appointed Diogo Peral as their head coach for the remainder of the season while Roger De Sa and Lebogang Manyama are serving as his two assistant coaches.
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