De Sa ready to introduce latest youngster from Ajax conveyor belt

AJAX remain fully committed to their philosophy of “no youth, no future”, but, sometimes, especially in times of struggle, they have to walk a fine line between the needs of the team and the education of the youngsters.

As always, and this too is policy with Ajax, education comes first. And so, as Ajax head into tonight’s PSL fixture against Wits at the Cape Town Stadium (7.30pm kickoff), this is the situation facing the Cape club’s head coach Roger de Sa.

Having weighed up the issue, De Sa has however, confirmed that 19-year-old Luthando Mateza will soon be introduced.

The left-footer from Gugulethu, who attends Belhar High, was an unused substitute for the Telkom Knockout opening round defeat to SuperSport United at the weekend. But Mateza is again in the squad for tonight’s Wits game – and, depending on how the game unfolds, it’s highly likely that he’ll make his PSL debut.

“Luthando (Mateza) is knocking hard at the selection door,” said De Sa.

“He’s got great qualities, he’s stepped up his game, worked much harder, and he’s defending a lot more. He’s been one of the best players in the Reserve Team and I think, once he gets an opportunity, he’ll grab it. He’s a player I believe will make a difference in the team in time to come.”

Mateza was a prominent member of the Ajax Under-19 team that won the ESAD and NextGen tournaments in the Netherlands earlier this year. At the Cape club, he has long been rated as a player with the potential to go all the way in the sport. Now that he is maturing, and improving the weak areas of his game, like the defensive side of things, the midfielder is ready for the step up.

“To be honest, when I was promoted to the PSL squad this year, I was shocked. I couldn’t believe it had happened so quickly. But I got down to work, I adapted to the system and I have to say the older players in the team have been really good,” said Mateza.

News is that Ajax will be without Toriq Losper, Nathan Paulse and Lebohang Mokoena for the match against Wits. Paulse has already had an operation to repair a fractured cheek bone, while Losper is scheduled to undergo surgery sometime this week.

The trio are expected to be out for quite a while. And their absence, needless to say, opens up the opportunity for others to step in, show what they can do, and stake a claim for a position in the team. Mateza is among those hopefuls.

“If I get a chance to play, then I’ll give my best,” said the Gugulethu teenager. “I’ll try to create openings for the players around me, and also try to score if an opportunity comes my way.