Ajax teen Mfecane off to Amsterdam

Ajax Cape Town youngster Sonwabile Mfecane is to train with Ajax Amsterdam for a month after being handpicked by the Dutch club’s director of football, Marc Overmars, on a recent visit to the Mother City.

The 17-year-old attacking midfielder leaves for his new adventure on Sunday and will spend four weeks in Amsterdam hoping to impress the club’s academy coaches.

Overmars spotted Mfecane while watching the club’s juniors and requested he come to Amsterdam so the club can take a closer look.

“When Marc Overmars came over here, he watched two games of his [Mfecane’s] and said: ‘I want the number eight’,” said Ajax Cape Town CEO Ari Efstathiou.

“We are very‚ very excited to take him there – we just hope he performs well. If he does do well he will come back because he is still under 18‚ then depending on how they see it, he will fly back to Amsterdam [when Mfecane turns 18 in May].

The Mfuleni-born player says he feels a responsibility to represent the Cape Town club well to open the door for others. “It’s a great feeling. I feel humbled‚ excited‚ but I know I have a job to do‚” Mfecane said.

“They told me I have to work hard because it will be a different environment for me and I must keep focused. I must work hard not just for me‚ but for the whole Ajax [Cape Town] youth.”

Mfecane said his eye for goal was one of his best attributes‚ but he also knew where he needed to improve. “Scoring goals for the team at crucial times is my best attribute‚ but I need to work on my defensive game.” /