It’s a make or break week for Urban Warriors
IF AJAX CAPE TOWN are to make a statement of intent with regards to their desire to steer the club to PSL safety, then this is the week to do so. With last-placed Platinum Stars having won at the weekend, it has added to the pressure on the struggling Capetonians. So, as it stands at the basement of the league standings, Platinum are on 21 points, Ajax 24, SuperSport United 27 and Polokwane City 30.
As such, it’s a make or break week for Ajax. With the season rapidly drawing to a close, the Cape club’s head coach, Muhsin Ertugral, believes three wins from the remaining five games should be enough to avoid the relegation axe. This week, two of those games will be played. There is no room for error – this is the time to strike. On Wednesday, Ajax host Wits at Athlone Stadium (7.30pm kickoff) and then, on Sunday, they are in Port Elizabeth to face Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The Urban Warriors cannot leave it too late – the other three remaining games are rather tricky: Baroka (home), Sundowns (away) and Chiefs (home). Two wins this week will ease the pressure on Ertugral’s men and transfer the pressure onto the other relegation candidates.
The ongoing saga around the eligibility of striker Tendai Ndoro also remains an issue. Last week, Ajax lost a High Court application to interdict the matter, but they were nevertheless happy with the rest of the judgement; they believe there was enough in the verdict for them to take heart from in order to continue the fight. Ndoro has played for three clubs this season which is in contravention of Fifa rules. Initially, he was cleared to play by the PSL’s Dispute Resolution Chamber, but, after last week’s court case, it has now been referred to the world governing body to make a final decision. But, rest assured, the matter is far from over. It is highly likely that, if Ajax ultimately lose the case, they will take it all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Meanwhile, neighbours Cape Town City managed a 1-1 draw with Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday night, with new Kenyan striker Masoud Juma coming off the bench to net a late equaliser for his team.