Isaacs an Ajax warrior
CAPE TOWN: Erwin Isaacs has come a long way since making his PSL debut on the right wing for Santos as a raw but highly talented 16-year-old. Now, 14 years later, believe it or not, he’s playing at right back for Ajax Cape Town.
Things change, that’s for sure. But, if there’s one thing that doesn’t change for Isaacs, it’s the ability, the passion and the absolute joy of playing the game he loves so much.
Tonight, Ajax host Bloemfontein Celtic in a PSL fixture at the Athlone Stadium, with the Capetonians focused on securing a top eight finish to what has been a rather erratic season. Isaacs will again take his place on the right side of defence – and he’s confident his team can pull it off.
“I’m enjoying myself at right back,”said Isaacs. “As long as we win games and keep clean sheets, I am happy. I used to be scoring goals, now I am keeping clean sheets. But credit to the coach (Stanley Menzo), I’ve learned a lot from him.
“The win over Highlands Park last month was crucial, and things started to fall into place after that. We are a unit, we are all working hard, and doing extra training. Training has been good this week and I expect that Celtic will come at us today.”
Ajax coach Menzo is just happy that he, and his squad, are able to breathe easier after their three recent wins (Highlands, Platinum Stars and Chippa United). After a torrid start to the season, things have finally turned for the better.
“Yes, it hasn’t been a good season, but we are doing well considering where we came from,” said Menzo. “We have kept on working hard and have stayed together.
“I expect Celtic to have a go at us; they are doing well at the moment. We beat them away from home last year, but no two games are the same. For us, we have to make sure that we win at home, because that will give us a lot of confidence for the final two games of the season – Orlando Pirates (away) and Baroka FC (home).
“We never switched off at Chippa (in the previous game) and we won’t switch off against Celtic.”
The U20 World Cup starts in South Korea later this month and Ajax have three players in the SA squad: Grant Margeman, Masilakhe Phohlongo and Shane Saralina.
With Wits and SuperSport United not releasing Phakamani Mahlambi and Teboho Mokoena respectively to the U20s, because the players are needed by their clubs over the next few games, a case could probably have been made for Ajax hanging on to sensational 18-year-old Margeman. “But we couldn’t deny him a chance of going to Korea,” said Menzo.
Isaacs, as a senior player, has been feeding the emerging young stars with valuable information about making their way in the sport: “I speak a lot to Grant. I’ve told him he can go very far in the game….”