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Cape Town - Veteran goalkeeper Shu-Aib Walters feels Benni McCarthy has done well in his first season in charge of Cape Town City.
Walters says it was always going to be difficult for McCarthy to repeat the success of the previous campaign in his maiden season coaching in the Premiership and with the club having lost key players such as Lebogang Manyama, Aubrey Ngoma, and Lehlohonolo Majoro.
Last season, City won the Telkom Knockout Cup and also finished the campaign in third position under former coach, Eric Tinkler.
The veteran goalkeeper is adamant winning their final game of the campaign against Amazulu, to finish the season among the top five teams, would make it a successful season as they have also reached the final of the MTN8.
"As a team I think we had expectations, obviously we had a new coach, we had to adjust to his philosophy and had quite a few new players coming in," Walters told Vodacom Soccer.
"We lost integral players, players that added a lot of value and had a lot of influence in the team. We needed other players to obviously step up and take responsibility.
"It was a tough season; I think basically it was a foundation and not continuation of the previous season, but we still made it. Potentially, I think the highest that we can get is fifth position if we can get a result in the final match.
"I think it will be a very successful season for coach Benni and the boys, having reached the final and ending in fifth. We can build from there for next season."
The goalkeeper admitted that his team struggled to grind out results in the second round of the season and feels it was due to lack of experience in the squad and losing influential players such as Teko Modise to injuries.
Walters added: "In the second half, we should understand that every team is playing for something. There are clubs playing for relegation, to win the league and top eight, so it’s a bit tougher.
"Also to add on that, we had inexperienced players who are still gaining experience like Craig Martin and Taariq Fielies, who are in their first season of top flight football and cannot always rely on them.
"Teko has also been out injured and he is a very influential player, Ayanda (Patosi) has also been out of the squad for a while. There are a lot of obstacles that the team had to go across."
