Ajax can’t afford to drop points

AJAX Cape Town know that anything less than maximum points in their last two matches of the PSL promotion-relegation playoffs might not be good enough to get them back into the top flight.

Ajax are in the playoffs where they will be guaranteed promotion if they finish at the top of the log after the four-match round-robin mini tournament.

With Black Leopards, who finished 15th in the PSL last season, in the driving seat after winning their first two matches, Ajax cannot afford to drop any more points. Ajax return to play this afternoon with a clash against TTM at Bidvest Stadium.

TTM are already guaranteed topflight football next season, after buying the status of Wits. For Calvin

Marlin’s men there’ll be no backdoor entry as they will have to succeed on the pitch.

But with an experienced bunch of players at their disposal, Ajax still have what it takes to win the playoffs. Eleazer Rodgers, Rooi Mahamutsa and Mohau Mokate are some of the senior players at Ajax that will need to guide the youngsters over the finish line.

A large chunk of Ajax’s key players are on loan from teams in the PSL. And chances are that they might be eager to stay at a club where they’ll play week in and week out next season.

Captain Grant Margeman and defender Siphesihle Mkhize are on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns. But even before the Brazilians completed a domestic treble, winning the PSL title, Nedbank Cup and Telkom Knockout, they had already beefed up their squad with no fewer than nine experienced players.

So, with the chances of breaking in the Sundowns team looking slim ahead of the new season, Margeman and Mkhize will be hopeful of inspiring Ajax to the top flight, especially if they extend their stints at the club.