Ajax are in a better situation than they were three or four weeks ago

AJAX CAPE TOWN coach Stanley Menzo readily admits that, after the weekend’s victory over Platinum Stars, things are looking a lot better. With four games to go to the end of the season, the Cape side can breathe easier as PSL survival is just about achieved.

Ajax are in Port Elizabeth on Saturday to take on a struggling Chippa United (3pm kickoff), but Menzo can carry himself with a great deal more confidence and he certainly doesn’t have to glance anxiously over his shoulder.

“After the win against Platinum, we can now look up instead of down,” said Menzo. “We don’t want to get carried away, but if we can win the next few games that will be good. But, yes, it is a better situation than it was three or four weeks ago.”

Back then, it appeared that Ajax could so easily be dragged into a relegation battle. But with the weekend’s victory, and other results involving bottom clubs also going their way, Ajax have charged up to 29 points on the PSL standings, in 10th position. More importantly, they are just two points away from a top-eight place and seven away from the relegation skirmish.

In fact, the team that has now been dragged into the drop area is Chippa. The PE side is now on an 11-game winless run in the league.

They are on 24 points, with only Free State Stars and Baroka FC (both 23 points) and Highlands Park (22) below them. The situation has resulted in Chippa changing coaches, with Dan Malesela placed on “special leave” and Mbuyiselo Sambu taking over as caretaker-coach.

There’s no doubt that Ajax will find the former Cape side in a desperate mood on Saturday – and the Urban Warriors will have to be at their best to deal with the relegation-threatened club.

Menzo, though, is happy with the improvement his team has displayed and he is confident of another good outing.

“Against Platinum at the weekend, we knew it would be a difficult game, with pressure, but I thought we did well, we controlled the game,” said the former Ajax Amsterdam and Netherlands goalkeeper. “I thought we got a good early goal (through teenager Grant Margeman), the defence played well and we gave nothing away.

“If anything, the only problem is that we are still not putting away enough of our scoring chances. In football, sometimes you need just a half-chance to score and sometimes you need 10 chances just to get one. But I liked the way we played against Platinum. We played to our rhythm, we played mostly in their half and we were always in control.”

The 18-year-old Margeman got all the plaudits for yet another mature performance, but Menzo had words of praise for the rest of the team as well.

“Grant did very well, he is a natural talent and very important to the team,” said the Ajax coach.