Hitting the Mainstay
Ajax go on the rampage
THE Mother City will have two teams left in the Nedbank Cup when the draw for the round of last 16 is made later this week – Premier Soccer League (PSL) club Ajax Cape Town and National First Division (NFD) side Vasco da Gama.
Yesterday, Ajax hammered Third Division side Mainstay United 9-1 in Kimberley, while, on Saturday, Vasco edged Second Division campaigners Bellevue Winners Park 3- 2 in Giyani in the Limpopo Province.
The two unfortunate city clubs were NFD team FC Cape Town, who were thrashed 6-2 by Black Leopards in Thohoyandou on Saturday, and yesterday the Cape’s fairytale team, Second Division The Magic FC, were beaten 3-0 by Platinum Stars of the PSL in a sweltering Rustenburg.
For Ajax, coach Roger de Sa wanted to use the Cup tie against the lower-tier club to improve his team’s scoring prowess and that is exactly what he got, with goals from Franklin Cale (2), Toriq Losper (2), Robin Ngalande ( 2), Noah Sadaoui ( 2) and Abbubakar Mobara.
Meanwhile, at Rustenburg’s Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, the brains trust behind The Magic – former Bafana Bafana strikers George Dearnaley (owner) and Gerald Stober (head coach) – are on record as saying that they were concerned the occasion might just be too much for their young, inexperienced squad.
And that is way it turned out to be. Nerves certainly played a part in the early stages, with the Capetonians conceding a soft goal inside the opening 90 seconds. A long throwin from Platinum captain Vuyo Mere was flicked on by Eleazar Rodgers and the ball looped into the net.
In stifling conditions, which necessitated a water-break after 20 minutes, The Magic, though, gradually worked their way back into the game, managing to successfully frustrate their more illustrious top-flight opponents. They even had an opportunity to equalise when Rodwell Bezuidenhout’s cross was met by striker Shane Petersen, only for Platinum’s Botswana goalkeeper Kabelo Dambe to pull off the save.
Going into the break just a goal down would have been just reward for The Magic’s efforts in the first half, but, again their inexperience let them down, cas they conceded a soft penalty through a rash challenge in the 43rd minute.
Vincent Khumalo stepped up to convert the spot-kick for the team from Rustenburg.
Rodgers, pictured left, from Kuils River in Cape Town, proved to be the undoing of the Cape opposition. His aerial threat was simply too much for the young Magic defenders – and the former Santos and Mamelodi Sundowns striker powered in a brilliant angled header from a Bryce Moon cross to make the score 3-0 in the 66th minute.
The PSL club’s overall class, quality and experience proved too hot for the Cape youngsters to handle in the second half, and they were able to cruise their way to victory.
Both Dearnaley and Stober have been honest about their chances in the match. While they wanted their players to go out and do their best and enjoy the occasion, they never really expected them to come away with a victory.
The Magic’s philosophy is about developing players and preparing them for a future as professional footballers. And, at this stage, as the club’s management was quick to point out, their players are still too inexperienced to challenge a team like Platinum.
But, as a learning experience, yesterday’s match will be crucial to the development, maturity and progress of this young squad. And, irrespective of yesterdays’ result, The Magic’s name is now on the lips of many in the domestic football world. They’ve made their mark – and now it’s about further growing the club, and making even greater strides in the sport.