De Sa’s goal is for Ajax to reach that magic number of 40 points
AJAX Cape Town head into tonight’s encounter with Mpumalanga Black Aces at the Cape Town Stadium (7.30pm kick off) looking to secure backto-back league victories for the first time since August last year.
It has by no means been a poor season for an Ajax side that has flirted with relegation over the last two years. Last Saturday, with their 2-1 win over SuperSport United, the Urban Warriors passed the 30 point mark, which in the PSL is usually just about enough to ensure safety from the dropzone come the end of the season. On 31 points, Ajax are in fifth position on the table, although their position remains precarious – eighth placed Polokwane City are only two points behind.
But with no threat of relegation hanging over the Parowbased club, and with eight rounds of league action remaining, it’s all about seeing how high up the table Ajax can finish, the top eight the minimum requirement for a club in a rebuilding phase, before more lofty ambitions are set for the future.
Recent results and performances have been encouraging, but one still gets the sense that the current Ajax side are capable of offering a whole lot more; inconsistency having been their greatest nemesis over the last eight months.
The Urban Warriors have already met with Aces twice this season, losing 1-0 away from home in the league, before beating AmaZayoni 3-0 in the Telkom Knockout, back in September at the Cape Town Stadium, in a match which coach Roger De Sa described as ‘prob- ably our best performance of the season, a game we dominated from beginning to end.’
Aces occupy 12th spot, sitting only four points above the dropzone, although their current status is by no means a reflection of the potential of a team full of quality. Underestimate Aces, and the likes of Tendai Ndoro, Collins Mbesuma, Abia Nale and Aubrey Ngoma (who once scored four goals against Ajax down in Cape Town for Tuks), can make any team pay.
“They had a good run in the beginning of the season and they have quality and experienced players, and a coach (Clive Barker) who has done everything. A tough team to play against, but a team that lets you play, so hopefully we will put up a good performance,” said De Sa.
“The fact that we beat them here (should give Ajax the psychological advantage) … and we were pretty good on the day. I just hope that we can do the same really. I reminded the players, we went through some pointers of what we did (in the 3-0 win), hopefully we can do the same this time. And we’ve added a few new players, so hopefully we are a little bit better.”
A run of seven league games without a win could make Aces a dangerous side tonight, but De Sa is staying focused on his own team’s ambitions.
“Right now they are probably looking over their shoulder a bit, worried about results. But we can’t think about that. We have just to focus on getting as close to the top four as possible. It’s important that we try and stay in touch and look ahead, rather than behind us.”
With a series of winnable league matches coming up – following Aces, Ajax play Platinum Stars, Free State Stars, AmaTuks and Maritzburg United – now is a good a time as any for Ajax to go on a bit of a run to put some pressure on the teams above them.
“I think 40, 41 points will probably be enough to finish in the top eight and that is what we have to go for now. We want to win every game we play and if we can get to those 40 points in the next three games, then we’ll make another target,” said De Sa.