Ajax: Stormy times,

THE thunderstorm that caused a brief interruption to Ajax Cape Town’s Telkom Knockout opening round tie in Atteridgeville on Saturday night is an apt metaphor for the team’s perilous situation.

The Cape side crashed out of the Cup, losing 1-0 to SuperSport United in extratime. After five league games, and one Cup tie, Ajax are yet to win a match this season. And, like the storm clouds above Pretoria on Saturday, and the inclement weather which eventually forced the players off as strong winds blew the advertising boards on to the field and the rain pelted down, so, too, a tempest appears to be heading the Cape club’s way.

In short, if they don’t start winning soon, there could be some very dark days ahead. It doesn’t get any easier for Ajax this week. On Wednesday, they host Wits in a PSL fixture at the Cape Town Stadium (kick-off 7.30pm) – and, this coming Saturday, it’s SuperSport again, this time in the league, and at Cape Town Stadium.

In the weekend’s Cup tie, there wasn’t all that much between the sides for 90 minutes. The winner eventually came when a hopeful shot from SuperSport winger Thuso Phala 90 seconds into the first period of extra-time was deflected into the net by Ajax defender Eric Chipeta for a rather spectacular own goal.

The Cape side’s dejected coach, Roger de Sa, said: “We didn’t create all that much. There wasn’t much in it. Both teams were pretty evenly-matched.”

Adding extra spice to the PSL clash between Ajax and Wits is the fact that the Clever Boys also bowed out of the Cup, losing 3-1 to Free State Stars. –