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Benni worried over defensive options at CT City

Cape Town - Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy feels he is still one or two signings short and singled out the centre-back position as a 'worry'.

City have been rocked by the news that first-choice central defender Taariq Fielies has been ruled out for the next few months after having his appendix removed.

To make matters worse, Ivorian centre-back Kouadja Kouassi is still some way off from making his return, which leaves Keanu Cupido as the only recognised centre-back in the squad, something which McCarthy admits is making him sweat.

“I could still do with another one or two more players, I don’t want to be too greedy but at centre-back it is a worry,” he noted.

“[Kouadja] Kuassi is not that [far from returning] but he’s still away. Fielies will still be out for another couple of months, after having his appendix removed with complications, so it will take time.

“The only recognised centre-back I have then is [Keanu] Cupido, and it becomes a worry because in midfield we’re covered. [Groeneveld] isn’t tried and tested, so you can’t go into a tough season [without experienced campaigners or back-up].”

The other option in the position is Belgian under-21 international Keith Groeneveld, whom City signed from Standard Liege in April, but he is still only 19 and vastly inexperienced.

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