Ajax seek a Platinum lining to lift dark cloud
De Sa livid at cup exit, will drill under-achieving Cape side this week
MONDAY MARCH 7 2016
ASHROUD of gloom has descended upon Ajax Cape Town after a four-game winless run. And, judged on the stern, unsmiling countenance of coach Roger de Sa after the Cape side crashed out of the Nedbank Cup on Saturday night, the squad is likely to get a bit of the Alex Ferguson “hairdryer” treatment this week.
Ajax turned in yet another ineffective performance in losing 2-1 to Free State Stars in a last 32 tie at the Athlone Stadium at the weekend. Before that, they allowed Chippa United to snatch a 1-1 draw, ignominiously bowed out of the Caf Confederations Cup to Angola’s GD Sagrada Esperanca, as well as suffering a 1-0 away defeat to the same Free Staters two weeks ago.
And, taking into consideration that the Capetonians made it to the final of the Nedbank Cup competition last season, Saturday’s exit will surely be all the more embarrassing.
But, as the idiom suggests, every cloud has a silver lining – and, for Ajax, that bright spark of light and optimism is represented by the fact that they, at least, have a bit of a breather now, after a hectic travelling and playing schedule over the last weeks.
The Cape side is only back in action on Sunday when they face Platinum Stars in a PSL fixture at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg (kickoff 3.30pm). It allows De Sa to sit his men down and have a serious talk about the precarious nature of the direction they are heading.
Not only have they now bowed out of the Confederations Cup and the Nedbank Cup, but their log position in the PSL doesn’t make for happy reading either. As things stand, Mamelodi Sundowns are running away at the summit of the standings with 52 points, followed by Wits on 42, Kaizer Chiefs on 39, Mpumalanga Black Aces on 36 and Platinum Stars on 32 points. Ajax are in a disappointing 10th spot, having accumulated just 27 points.
To say the Cape team has under-performed is an understatement… considering the talent in the squad and what they have, just recently, achieved, a lot more should be expected – and demanded. This week’s PSL fixtures Wednesday: Platinum Stars v Kaizer Chiefs; Polokwane City v Wits Friday: Maritzburg Utd v Golden Arrows Saturday: MP Black Aces v University of Pretoria; Orlando Pirates v Jomo Cosmos Sunday: Platinum Stars v Ajax Cape Town (Royal Bafokeng Stadium, 3.30pm); Bloemfontein Celtic v Free State Stars Nedbank last 32 Tomorrow: Moroka Swallows v SuperSport United; Jomo Cosmos v AmaZulu
De Sa knows this, which is why he is unhappy with the manner in which his team is capitulating at the moment.
“We were just not good enough (on Saturday),” said a visibly upset De Sa. “But we’ll have to take it on the chin and try to bounce back…
“I thought we backed off in defence too much and allowed Free State Stars to play right through us. But, to be honest, I don’t think we lost it on defence; I thought we lost it in the final third. We weren’t clinical enough, we weren’t good enough... we had enough opportunities to win the game comfortably.
“In the first half, especially, we had plenty of chances and should have been a couple of goals up. But that’s cup football, I guess, you’ve got to kill it off, you’ve got to be on top of your game and we weren’t, we missed far too many opportunities.
“But credit to Stars… They had the legs and the desire, and they were more motivated. We’ve played a lot more football, but that shouldn’t be an excuse… They got their noses in front and they fought hard, while we didn’t...”
De Sa also admitted that the absence of an out-and-out striker affected the team. With both top-scorer Prince Nxumalo and veteran Nathan Paulse unavailable, Ajax struggled in attack… Tashreeq Morris played well, but, having just come back from a lengthy injury, he’s still lacking the sharpness and killer instinct required in front of goal.
With high-riding Platinum coming up this weekend, it’s an opportunity for Ajax to get back on track, while the welcome breather this week is a chance for introspection, for the players to take stock and, hopefully, perform with more mettle and energy for the rest of the season.
With Ajax and second division team Steenberg United eliminated, first division side Santos is the only Cape club in the Nedbank Cup last 16. The draw for the round of 16 will take place after the final round-of-32 matches tomorrow.