**Cardiff City Latest: Colwill Explains Decision to Stay, Riza Reflects on Survival Hopes, and Turner Savours Debut**
Cardiff City’s supporters have been treated to compelling developments both on and off the pitch as the new season gets underway. The club’s mood appears buoyant, not least because of the optimism expressed by key figures, including Rubin Colwill, who has shed light on his decision to remain with the Bluebirds despite the setback of relegation.
Colwill, now vice-captain following the departures of Joe Ralls and Aaron Ramsey, has quickly become a central figure among the squad’s more experienced heads — all this despite being just 23 years of age. His loyalty to the club he grew up supporting has been much discussed, with speculation swirling over possible moves to Championship clubs over the summer.
The midfielder, who captained the side at the weekend and appeared invigorated by the extra responsibility, confirmed that he had no serious interest in looking elsewhere. “Being a key part of Cardiff’s future means everything to me,” Colwill revealed. “There’s something in the air at this club. All the hard times, as well as the triumphs, are driving us to build something new and exciting, with players from the academy breaking through and a renewed sense of unity.”
Much of that sense of hope is embodied in his partnership with his younger brother Joel, who recently made his first full league appearance in Cardiff’s 2-1 victory over Peterborough United. For the Colwill brothers, sharing the pitch is not just a professional milestone but a childhood dream fulfilled. “We’ve dreamt of this since we were kids,” Rubin said. “It’s a rare gift to play alongside your brother in the first team for the club you both love.”
Elsewhere, former interim boss Omer Riza has opened up about his own testing spell at the club’s helm. Riza was dismissed with just three fixtures of the season remaining, as Cardiff turned to Aaron Ramsey in a desperate attempt to stay afloat in the Championship. Ultimately, Ramsey was unable to engineer an escape from relegation, failing to win in his brief stint in charge.
Riza, while reflecting on his own sacking, expressed lingering belief that he could have kept City up had he been afforded the finish to the campaign. “Leaving with just three matches to go was a big blow. I genuinely think we could have secured the points we needed to stay in the division,” Riza told viewers whilst offering match analysis for Sky Sports. He acknowledged the tough circumstances Ramsey was thrust into, noting that the timing made success particularly elusive.
Despite a turbulent tenure that saw its share of challenges off and on the pitch, Riza described his time in South Wales with clear affection. “From the high points, like our dominant 3-0 win over Swansea, to the disappointing moments, each experience taught me something and I’ll always value my time at Cardiff,” he said.
Adding to the sense of change, goalkeeper Matt Turner enjoyed a memorable debut in Saturday’s curtain-raiser against Peterborough. Despite most pre-match discussion centring on whether Jak Alnwick or Ethan Horvath would start, it was Turner who was given the nod after catching the manager’s eye in training.
Turner produced a composed display between the sticks and made several vital saves. “It was an incredibly proud day, especially having my parents in the stand,” he commented afterwards. Turner only found out he would be starting the night before, after receiving a call from the manager, who expressed clear confidence in the young keeper’s abilities.
His captain and friend Rubin Colwill was quick to praise Turner’s performance, highlighting his composure and crucial interventions late in the match. “Matt’s dedication every day has paid off, and he was immense when it mattered most. That’s exactly what we need at this club if we’re to bounce back.”
As Cardiff look ahead to an away fixture against Port Vale, hope seems to have returned to the Cardiff City Stadium. With established leaders staying loyal, exciting emerging talents such as Joel Colwill and Matt Turner stepping up, and past players reflecting on their lessons learnt, the Bluebirds will be determined to translate their renewed sense of unity into a positive campaign.
The club’s supporters, meanwhile, remain eager to see whether this optimism manifests into the ‘special’ season Rubin Colwill and his teammates believe could be on the horizon.