Ajax target win over SuperSport in awkward stop-start schedule

AJAX CAPE TOWN supporters have an opportunity to thank the team they follow for a muchimproved 2015, including a fifthplaced PSL finish during the last campaign and the MTN8 Cup final victory earlier this season.

The Cape team takes on SuperSport United in a PSL fixture at Athlone Stadium on Saturday night (kick-off 8.15pm), the final home game of the year. Ajax are scheduled to play one more match before the Christmas recess, but that will be away to Mpumalanga Black Aces on December 19.

So this weekend is the last occasion – in 2015 – for the Ajax faithful to watch their team at home.

The reason for this is because the PSL takes a lengthy break next week to accommodate the African Under-23 Eight Nations tournament in Senegal (from November 28 to December 12), which serves as the official continental qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The top three countries in Senegal book a place to Brazil.

The SA U23 squad will be named this week, with Ajax’s Abbubaker Mobara and Riyaad Norodien certain inclusions, while there is a possibility that Jody February, pictured, or Travis Graham could be added as well.

The situation does, however, imply that Ajax are in for a really tough second half of the season. In addition to playing roughly 19 league games in 12 weeks, they will also be involved in the CAF Confederations Cup and the domestic Nedbank Cup.

Ajax head coach Roger de Sa is already preparing for a punishing programme in the new year.

“It’s all a bit stop-start, I suppose, but we knew the schedule at the beginning of the season,” said De Sa. “There’s no use complaining, we just have to get on with it.

“The team’s looking forward to getting back into action. Our last game was a 2-1 loss to Orlando Pirates two weeks ago, and we’ve had to carry that defeat for quite a while.

“It’s been a bit of a struggle since the cup final, but we’ve got most of the guys back fit again and we just have to get back to the way we can play.

“We’ve got two games to go until the end of the year and then, next year, we are in for a real test of character. It’s going to be really difficult.”

And with SuperSport looming on Saturday, De Sa is well aware that his players will have to be at their best. “SuperSport had a slow start, but I think they are starting to get better now,” he said. “On paper, they have a fantastic team. They’ve brought in some quality players this season, players with experience.

“They are a team on the up and we’ll have to be focused and prepared. SuperSport are able to play direct and they can be very physical.

“But we have beaten them in the past. We just have to do what we are capable of, stay focused, and there’s no reason why we can’t get a positive result.”

With Ajax announcing the signing of top Ghanaian defender Lawrence Lartey on Monday, De Sa explained the reasoning behind the capture.

“There’s always been talk about Lartey at Ajax, even before I came here,” said De Sa. “I think it was (former Ajax coach) Muhsin Ertugral who was keen on the player after seeing him at the 2013 U20 World Cup.

“When I arrived as coach, we monitored his progress, watched videos of him in action, and we continued to chase the player. He could easily have played overseas... it’s taken two years to convince him to join Ajax. He trained with us last week, played two friendlies, and got him to put pen to paper.

“Lartey is a massive addition to our squad. He’s young, but he’s a leader… and he’ll easily fit into the Ajax mould because he’s not just a defender, he’s a good footballer too.”