Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
The warning signs are up for charitable Ajax
Fixtures
AJAX CAPE TOWN may have gone all the way to the final of the Nedbank Cup last season, but they have a tough task in attempting to replicate the feat, especially as they face difficult opponents in Free State Stars at Athlone Stadium today (kickoff 6pm).
Ajax take on the tricky Free Staters in a last 32 tie of this cup competition at the famed Cape Flats football stadium early this evening, and news from the visitors’ camp should add to the threat the Urban Warriors are up against today.
Ea Lla Koto have had endless injury concerns this season, hence their inconsistency. But two big names are scheduled to return for them this evening: deadly strikers Moeketsi Sekola and Sthembiso Ngcobo. Also remember that, just two weeks ago, Ajax lost to Stars in a PSL match in Bethlehem. The warnings have been posted...
The duo’s availability, after missing the last few weeks through injury, means that Ea Lla Koto’s Italian coach Giovanni Solinas has more options in attack and it will certainly add to his squad’s confidence and belief that they can pull off a Last 32 Today:
Tomorrow: result in the Mother City.
Sekola is a prolific marksman and was last season’s top goal-scorer with 14 goals. The powerful Ngcobo has come a long way in the top-flight, having also played at AmaZulu and Kaizer Chiefs. Both players have also had the honour of wearing a Bafana Bafana jersey.
Solinas is still finding his way in the PSL, having coached in other parts of the continent, including Algerian side ES Setif. But the 47-year-old European has the advantage of being assisted on the bench by former Bafana left-back, Bradley Carnell.
Carnell needs no introduction to domestic football, having played for Wits and Chiefs before transferring to the Bundesliga.
But with Stars able to call on the attacking talents of Sekola and Ngcobo, there’s no doubt that Ajax will have to be organised and focused in defence. The Cape side’s coach, Roger de Sa, has lamented his team’s penchant of losing concentration during crucial moments in a game. As such, it results in silly errors and they are punished.
“I think it’s about seven times we’ve given away goals that are just charity goals,” said De Sa. “And, for me, that’s disappointing. We’ve got to step up. You cannot make such mistakes if you are a professional footballer.”
De Sa would have spent this week drumming those wise words into his under-performing squad, and he will be demanding a response against Ea Lla Koto today.