Cape Town - SuperSport United coach Gordon Igesund has revealed that midfielder Thuso Phala requested to be replaced as club captain before their Telkom Knockout game on Wednesday.
Phala was given the captaincy at the beginning of the 2015/16 campaign in recognition for being named the club's player of the season last term.
However, to everyone's surprise, Dean Furman wore the skipper's armband in Matsatsantsa's 2-1 win over Polokwane City in the Telkom Knockout on Wednesday night.
"[Before the game] I sat down with Thuso Phala to discuss his performance and what I am expecting from him," Igesund explained.
"He said to me, 'Coach if maybe if you can just relieve me from being captain because I am not focusing on my match. I would like to just perform and get to my best at the moment without any pressure.'
"I wanted him to carry on as the captain but the player feels it's a little bit too much pressure on him at the moment and he must focus on his game going forward.
"I told the players the story and that Dean will take the team out tonight then I will apply my mind going forward," he concluded.