Menzo implores Ajax to show character

AFTER TWO successive defeats, Stanley Menzo is clear and unequivocal about what he wants from his Ajax Cape Town team.

The Cape side takes on Polokwane City in an Absa Premiership fixture at Peter Mokaba Stadium tomorrow (3.30pm) – and Menzo is urging his players to dig deep within themselves.

After a heavy, embarrassing 5-0 thrashing by Bidvest Wits and a 2-0 loss to neighbours Cape Town City, Ajax are desperate and determined to rediscover the form that saw them reel off five wins out of six towards the end of last year.

“Usually, when you come off two defeats, other dynamics come into play in a squad, but now is the time for the players to show character. This is when they have to stick together and show themselves on the field. Yes, there is pressure, but it’s good pressure … The players know they have to perform, they have to win.”

Menzo has spent time this week doing a video analysis of his team’s last two defeats, as well as having a closer look at the strengths and weaknesses of tomorrow’s opposition.

“In those two losses, we had chances to score, but then again we are always going to have opportunities to score,” he said. “For me, it was the defensive organisation that was a big worry. We cannot concede goals the way we have been doing in the last two games. We spoke about it, we worked on it at training, and the players know that we have to eliminate such unnecessary mistakes from our game. So, against Polokwane tomorrow, the most important thing is not to give easy goals away.

“As for Polokwane,it won’t be easy. Having watched the way they play, it’s clear they have a specific style. They like to play balls in behind the defence and their speedy runners make use of the spaces. They are good in one-on-one situations, so we have to be prepared for them defensively. But their strength is also their weakness. Because they commit so many players forward, there is an opportunity to catch them, and we have to take advantage of that.”

Squad news is that striker Prince Nxumalo, whose problems with epilepsy flared up last week, is still not fully tuned up. New Zambian signing Aubrey Funga, pictured, though, will probably make his debut. As for 18-year-old talent, Grant Margeman, Menzo said the player was currently on national duty with the South Africa Under-20 squad, but could also play if released from that setup.