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Cape Town - Ajax Cape Town head coach Muhsin Ertugral explained his war of words with Cape Town City mentor Benni McCarthy during last Saturday's Ikapa Derby.
The two Mother City clubs clashed at Cape Town Stadium for an Absa Premiership fixture.
McCarthy’s Citizens claimed bragging rights through an early second-half header, courtesy of Craig Martin, as the score remained 1-0 at the end of 90 minutes.
Ertugral admits that City were deserving of the three-points as the John Comitis-owned side dominated the encounter.
However, 10-minutes from the full-time whistle, Ertugral and McCarthy got involved in a heated argument which saw the Citizens coach come out of his technical area.
Players from either side and match officials had to bring calm to the situation by separating the coaches during the exchange of words.
The fourth official and the referee failed to control matters as City had 12 players on the field during a substitution which made Ertugral furious.
McCarthy was eventually sent to the stands for disobeying the fourth official's order and coming out of his technical area.
During his post-match press conference, Ertugral revealed that the former Bafana Bafana striker waited for him in the tunnel after the match to explain the situation.
"When I came out he was waiting for me outside," said Ertugral.
"I have a great respect for him‚ he is a young boy that has achieved.
"How many players in South Africa have achieved what he has?
"There are two things in the football world that players want to achieve I think‚ win the World Cup and win the Champions League. He has achieved that.
"After the game and I came out of the tunnel‚ he wanted to talk to me and I went to him and listened to him.
"He didn’t want to listen to what I had to say though.
"But they had a couple more players on the field than us. The rule says very clearly‚ it’s a card. It’s my right to ask for it.
"This is football here‚ this is not an old age home‚ we are playing a derby and I have a right to say that.
"Is he allowed (to speak)‚ because he played Champions League‚ and I am not allowed to speak? Does he have more rights than me‚ what is it?
"Then he gets out of his line and wants to explain something‚ so I say get back to your line there. You need to be in there.
"When you get out because you want to explain something‚ then I will complain that you are out there. Simple as that."
Much to Ertugral’s frustration, the Turkish-born coach said that the next time his side clashes with City, he would bring McCarthy "lollipops".
"He needs to learn‚ he is still a baby... next time I will bring lollipops so he can play with it," Ertugral continued.
"Benni needs also to learn a little bit... he was a great player but he also needs to learn how to behave a bit on the side (in the technical area).
"There is a line‚ why did they draw a line there? He came out of his line‚ came to my line and asked what am I doing. I don’t know what he is doing.
"I am long in this business and we put him out in the stands very quickly.
"Later on, he wanted to explain to me certain things‚ but after the game for me these things are always over. That is there‚ in the 90 minutes.
"He will take time to learn‚ but he will."
McCarthy was not present for the post-match press conference as City's acting assistant coach took questions from the media.
