CT City tackle Ajax this week
SINCE Cape Town City bought their PSL franchise, there have been three Cape derby outings against neighbours Ajax Cape Town. City have won all three. It’s a statistic Ajax are intent on erasing when the two teams meet in a PSL fixture at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 3.30pm).
The two Cape clubs are still on opposite sides of the standings, with City in third position and Ajax down in 13th spot on the 16-team PSL log. The sides come into the derby with contrasting form, though, as a much-improved Ajax dispatched Platinum Stars last Friday, while City lost to Free State Stars on Saturday. Don’t read too much into that, however, as form is not all that important in a match as emotional as this one.
From a spectator perspective, this derby definitely comes at the right time. We are in the January transfer window; there has been comings and goings at both clubs; and, after the festive season break, both teams are struggling to find their rhythm and best form. In essence, that means it’s difficult to predict just how this derby will unfold – and, for the football fan, there couldn’t be a better recipe for match-day thrills and spills.
Here are a few issues to ponder ahead of Saturday’s derby: NEW FACES
Players come and go, it’s just the nature of the game. But, while City added more depth, especially after the loss of Lehohlonolo Majoro (Wits), Aubrey Ngoma (Sundowns) and the imminent departure of captain Robyn Johannes to Wits at the end of the season, it’s no secret that Ajax were in desperate need of an overhaul.
Mired towards the basement of the PSL standings, the coach tasked with breathing new life into Ajax was recently-appointed Muhsin Ertugral (for his fourth stint at the helm). Ertugral set about the task urgently, and with gusto, coaxing former Orlando Pirates striker Tendai Ndoro back from Saudi Arabia, where he was playing for Al-Faisaly.
The 32-year-old Zimbabwean, of course, needs no introduction to PSL followers, as he scored many a goal in the colours of Pirates three years ago. Also brought in to freshen things up for Ajax were rising young star Fagrie Lakay, midfielder Samuel Julies and hardman Gerald Takwara. Lakay, from Manenberg, is the youngest to have played for Bafana, and has already made an impact at Ajax, while Ndoro netted on debut in the 3-1 win over Platinum Stars last week.
Over at City, there are new faces too. Promising defender Kwanda Mngonyama was signed from Sundowns and is obviously seen as a replacement when Johannes departs, Surprise Ralani was lured back from Swedish club Helsingborgs IF, while Kenyan scoring-sensation Masoud Juma is expected to take the PSL by storm once he has adapted to his new surroundings.
NEW APPROACH, NEW ATTITUDE
With Ertugral now in charge at Ajax, there has already been a shift in approach. Always wary and circumspect under former mentor Stanley Menzo, the Turkish coach has brought greater attacking awareness to the team. They have certainly looked far better in recent outings, there is a noticeable change in attitude and, no doubt, there will be even more improvement as the season progresses. As a squad, Ajax are playing with more confidence, and, as individuals, there certainly appears to be a bit more self-belief.
While City are still ticking along, and right up there with the title-challengers, coach Benni McCarthy will also be keen on a new approach and attitude from his players, The weekend’s loss to Free State Stars again highlighted the lack of creativity in the squad (and this is where the recent loss of Ngoma will be felt). McCarthy’s main job now is to integrate the new faces into the squad quickly, develop an approach that suits the current squad, and then try to kick on from there.
SAME DERBY, NEW ENERGY The Cape derby, in years gone by, has always been an occasion to treasure. It produced high intensity, highly competitive football in an atmosphere seething with emotion and passion. There had been a lull in recent years, though, with Ajax the only Cape topflight club, but the arrival of City has breathed new life into the derby. And, boy, it hasn’t disappointed. The Cape derby is now one of the most anticipated fixtures on the PSL calendar. So far, City have been in the ascendancy, but, with Ajax improving under Ertugral, Saturday’s game has the potential to be really special. Most notable is that the new faces and new attitudes, on both teams, will bring new energy. City will be determined to maintain their dominance, while Ajax are hell-bent on shutting up the noisy upstart neighbours.
OLD RIVALRY, NEW TWIST Much of this new Cape derby’s rivalry hinges on the club bosses. City boss John Comitis was one of the founding owners of Ajax, until he fell out with his partners, the Efstathiou brothers (the current owners of Ajax). Rest assured, this is a game both clubs hate to lose. But to add more spice to the fixture is that Ertugral had previously sided with Comitis in the ongoing feud. Two years ago, when the Turk was in charge of Mpumalanga Black Aces, and his team had beaten Ajax, he flagrantly announced at the post-match interview that he was dedicating the victory to Comitis, which was probably intended to be a slap in the face of the Efstathious. Now, in an about-turn, Ertugral and the Efstathious have mended
fences, he has taken up the Ajax coaching post again, and is ready to hand his good friend Comitis his first derby defeat. Football in South Africa, man, you just cannot write the scripts...