Ajax can get their season back on track if they beat high-flying Chiefs

KAIZER Chiefs have not always had things their own way when coming up against Cape PSL clubs in the Mother City – and they can certainly expect another tough, competitive encounter when they take on Ajax Cape Town at the Athlone Stadium tonight (kick-off 8.15pm).

Here, we take a closer look at some of the match-defining areas which could have a major impact in determining the eventual winner: While Steve Komphela has finally got Chiefs purring like a well-oiled engine, his Ajax counterpart, Stanley Menzo, is struggling to re-discover the “fire” that saw the Cape side win five of their last six games last year.

Chiefs have won their last five games and they are perched prettily in second spot on the standings – but this wasn’t always the case. In fact, there was a period last year when the knives were out for Komphela, and he was feeling the pinch of a string of inconsistent results. Now, with time, and with the squad having adapted to his methods, it’s going well. And he’s keen that his men continue in the same vein against Ajax tonight.

Menzo stepped into the Ajax hotseat in October, after the departure of Roger de Sa. At the time, Ajax were mired towards the bottom of the log, but the former Ajax Amsterdam and Netherlands goalkeeper quickly set about instilling the necessary tactical discipline and mental strength the team had been missing. They scooted up the standings and were among the form teams by the close of the year. Now, though, after two defeats and a draw in the new year, Menzo believes a fixture against Chiefs comes at just the right time, in his efforts to get the team performing to potential again. It’s in the tightly congested central midfield area that the key to this game’s victory will emerge. It’ll come down to who can dominate, making the role of Chiefs’ Zimbabwean strong man Willard Katsande and Ajax’s Ndiviwe Mdabuka,

very important. Katsande has long been one of the PSL’s most consistent and admired performers. Tough, uncompromising and absolutely committed to his team, he’ll get stuck in and make things difficult for Ajax’s creative sparks. Mdabuka was rested for last week’s Polokwane City 1-1 draw, to keep him fresh for the contest against Chiefs. His role as the combative, aggressive anchor man also becomes even more important for Ajax today because captain and central midfielder Travis Graham is suspended. There’s no need to elaborate on the benefits of experience and how vital it is, both on and off the field. Chiefs and Ajax are blessed to have two seasoned campaigners – Siphiwe Tshabalala and Nathan Paulse – still performing sprightly, while, at the same time, playing an influential role in guiding the young, up-and-coming rookies in their squads.

Amakhosi’s Tshabalala, in fact, is in great form. He’s still the man who makes Chiefs tick creatively, and he’s not averse to getting into useful scoring positions as well. Ajax’s Paulse has struggled with injury this season, but is back fully fit and as enthusiastic as ever. His height and abrasive nature make him a difficult customer for opposition defences to mark. Both Ajax and Chiefs rely heavily on wing play, in that they love to get the ball out wide to tricky footballers like Thabo Mosadi ( Ajax) and Joseph Molangoane and George Lebese (both Chiefs).

Mosadi has been a revelation since joining from the University of Pretoria this season. His quick feet and eye for an opening have provided the impetus for much of the Cape side’s offence. Lebese has long been the go-to man for Chiefs out wide. But he’s been out injured for quite a while and Molangoane has stepped in and done a very good job. Lebese, though, is fit again, and hungry to get back in the mix. He came off the bench in Chiefs’ last game – a 1-0 win over Highlands Park, so it’s a toss-up who Komphela will opt for today – but, whether it’s Lebese or Molangoane, or even Edmore Chirambadare, rest assured, Ajax can expect to deal with some quality on the flanks. The established convention in football is that star players are to be found in attack or in midfield. Not so with these two clubs – their stars are in defence: Ajax’s Rivaldo Coetzee and Chiefs’ Ramahlwe Mphahlele.

Mphahlele, the former Sundowns skipper, has been in superb form for this new club. Capable of playing at right- back or in central defence, he’s extremely influential to Amakhosi. The Bafana man’s leadership and general star aura is the glue that holds things together and permeates the squad with confidence.

As for Coetzee, there’s not much more to say. Having made his PSL debut at the age of 17, he’s been a regular for club and country (U23 and Bafana) ever since. Class personified is the 20-year-old from Kakamas in the Northern Cape – and, if Ajax are to get the better of Chiefs tonight, they are going to need a huge effort from the multi-talented Coetzee.