The Austrian, who is into his third season with the Cape club, has been a key component in midfield, his high work rate in both breaking down and starting attacks making him a regular starter in Benni McCarthy’s side.
The 27-year-old started the first six games of the season, even scoring a superb volley in the opening day victory over SuperSport United, yet despite his and the team’s solid start to the season, Putsche insists it’s all about consistency.
“Everyone wants a good start to a season, and I think I achieved that,” he said. “But for me, it’s not about one good performance or one good goal, it’s about consistency – that is what football is all about.”
Putsche, who missed his side’s MTN8 second-leg semi-final penalty shootout victory over Mamelodi Sundowns after being injured in last week’s 2-2 draw against Free State Stars, then spoke about his side’s perennial goal scoring problem, with the Citizens having scored only seven goals in as many games this season, while scoring just 26 in the league last season – the fifth-worst in the PSL.
Interestingly, City have not scored more than two goals in a game across all competitions since a 3-1 win over Platinum Stars in August last year – 46 matches ago.
“It will come,” Putsche insists. “Sometimes you have to earn your goals, and I can see the boys working on a daily basis, putting in the work. Sooner or later it will get rewarded.”
Putsche, who is now back in training after coming off second best in a crunching tackle with Stars’ hardman Paulus Masehe last week, wore the captain’s armband in the draw with Ea Lla Koto in the absence of Thamsanqa Mkhize, and has hailed the importance of the City leadership within the squad.
“We have a couple of leaders, which is important for the team,” he says. “Thami Mkhize wears the armband and is a top leader, I try to be a leader, and of course Teko Modise – everyone knows what he has done and achieved in South African football. And Matthew Rusike as well.
“But it’s very important that we understand each other, and that everyone tries to lead in their own way, and I try be a good example for the young players.”
City return after the international break with a high-profile clash against Kaizer Chiefs, scheduled to take place at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, 15 September.