Having Tendai, Gerald available would boost Ajax’s chances
AJAX CAPE TOWN coach Muhsin Ertugral is so desperate to field Zimbabwean internationals Tendai Ndoro (striker) and Gerald Takawara (midfielder) for tomorrow’s showdown with PSL log-leaders Mamelodi Sundowns that he would have had no problem getting up at the crack of dawn this morning to queue outside of the Home Affairs offices to get his new signings’ work permits – and his own – sorted out.
“Having Tendai and Gerald available would boost our chances significantly,” said Ertugral.
“We need all the firepower we can muster.
“I also need my boys’ nerves to take a back seat. It was there to see again in our 2-1 home defeat to Maritzburg United on Friday night.
“They face an acid test and I just want them to see the meeting with a champion side as an opportunity to show what they’re really capable of.”
On form it seems unlikely that the Urban Warriors will upset the league leaders at Cape Town Stadium (7.30pm kickoff). Ajax have only bagged three wins from 15 outings.
Ajax seem to be their own worst enemy. When they take the lead they go into defensive mode and end up finishing secondbest, as was the case against Maritzburg after going 1-0 up early on.
Ertugral and his assistant Calvin Marlin have no time to address the inefficiencies affecting performance and will just be hoping their charges rise to the challenge of playing the league leaders.
Ertugral, in his fourth stint with the Parow-based club and with over 20 years of coaching experience, has gotten his team to focus on a specific style of passing but admits that this will take time to master. He wants to see his charges passing with confidence between the lines and doing so with an eye on what’s happening around them.
Patience is key, so too belief, and then to be more clinical in the final third. Ajax have only netted 11 times this season, the joint third lowest in the league – Wits, who are bottom of the log, have scored the least (seven).
There’s no time to find the right combinations, something that the coach views as crucial.
New acquisition Fagrie Lakay, 20, made his debut against Maritzburg and set up a goal in what was a polished performance from the striker on loan from SuperSport United. As for Ndoro, he’s itching to play. “I love a challenge and that’s why I moved to the Mother City,” said the Zimbabwean. “I see how few goals the strikers in the league have netted and (I) want to show them how it is done.
“I’m fit and raring to go. Obviously working again with Muhsin was the big motivator; he knows what I’m about from our days with Orlando Pirates and I just want to help him help the team move away from the danger zone.”