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Duncan Crowie

Rodney Reiners

The Cape Town derby has lost a touch of its lustre over the last few years.

Now Santos and Ajax Cape Town hope to rekindle the thunder and passion that characterised home-town rivalry during bygone years when teams like Cape Town Spurs, Hellenic, Cape Town City and Glendene strutted the professional football circuit in the Mother City.

The two Cape PSL sides face off in a league match at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night (kick off 8.15pm) – and the fixture couldn’t have come at a better time. The stage is certainly set for an action-packed, entertaining encounter.

Ajax have won their last five games and have screamed into fourth position on the PSL log, with 30 points from 17 games. Many of their star players are returning to top form and they have demonstrated tremendous courage in the face of adversity. They have made no secret of the fact that the league title is their main focus – and a victory in the Cape derby will be a massive boost to that ambition.

Over at Santos, the mood is as optimistic.

Down in the doldrums for much of the last two seasons, the Lansdowne-based side is finally coming good. A heartening 3-1 win over Bidvest Wits over the weekend was just the tonic needed in preparation for the derby.

Santos are now in 12th position on the 16-team PSL table, with 15 points from their 17 games. But don’t read too much into the fact that Ajax have accumulated 15 points more so far this season.

Santos caretaker-coach Duncan Crowie played in many a local derby down the years. As a player, he was one of the best of his generation. He definitely knows more than a thing or two about playing in the cauldron of a passionate Cape derby.

“The bottom line is that anything can happen,” said Crowie. “Don’t be fooled by past results, they don’t count for much. The only thing that matters is what happens on the night.”

Crowie hasn’t had much luck since taking over the Santos coaching hot seat from Boebie Solomons, but he is starting to see some improvement. He is confident his new-look side will show even more against Ajax on Saturday.

“We may have beaten Wits over the weekend, but I thought we played far better in the previous match, a 3-2 loss to Moroka Swallows,” said Crowie.

“Against Swallows, we kept possession well and passed the ball around smartly. Against Wits, we hardly had the ball, but were organised in defence and took our scoring chances when they came.

“What I need from the team is to combine the two performances. We need to keep possession of the ball for longer periods as well as take our scoring opportunities. If we get this balance right, then we will win a lot more games.”

Crowie added that the new players, signed during the January transfer window, had provided some impetus to the squad.

“Goalkeeper Pa Dembo Touray gives the team confidence at the back and Nasief Morris is an intelligent and assured defender, capable of making play from the back. In midfield, there’s not much to say about Matthew Pattison, everybody knows how good he is, while Gert van Schalkwyk brings something different, something unpredictable, to the play.

“On Saturday, we will have to be ready though. Ajax are a quality team. They are in fourth spot on the log and looking good.

“But, as I said, in a Cape derby, form means nothing, all that matters is the three points. And both teams will be going out there determined to fight for it.”