Unite against us - Ajax

Jason Felix

AJAX Cape Town have appealed to Capetonians to come out in their droves to support them against English glamour club Manchester United at Cape Town Stadium tomorrow.

The former Fifa World Cup venue will be decorated in red and white, as city soccer lovers could have their loyalties divided when the Urban Warriors go head-to-head with the 19-times English Premier League champions.

Ajax social media content manager Mark Culvert said the club supporter numbers grew by about 4 000 in the past five years.

“The support base of our team is growing and Cape Town Stadium played a big role in the growth. The stadium looks very attractive and its world-class facilities have made it possible for teams like Manchester United to play in our city. This match certainly places our brand of soccer on the global map,” Culvert said.

Christian Toockley from Ajax’s Mitchells Plain supporters club said: “We will paint the city red and white and support our team like never before. We are loyal and our supporters who like Manchester United will stick with Ajax because we love Cape Town and its soccer. We will kill the Red Devils.”

Toockley said he had not been as excited about a football match before: “It is a privilege to see international soccer stars live, it is a dream come true because I always just see them on TV. I love Manchester United too, but my loyalty, and I hope that of other Capetonians, lies with Ajax.”

Chairman of the United supporters club in Cape Town Devon September said “on Saturday we will sing and support our team better than our European counterparts”.

September said supporters of the club bought new United accessories.

Social media was abuzz with more than 500 Facebook comments on the United page and 300 tweets about the match.

Close to 55 000 spectators are expected to fill the stadium. Trains, buses and shuttles for the disabled will be available. There will also be park-and-ride facilities at most train stations. Parking will also be available at the V&A Waterfront.

Spectators can also use the pedestrian fan walk from the Civic Centre to the stadium.

The match kicks off at 3pm.

The city has barred firearms, ammunition, knives, sharp objects, hazardous chemicals, fireworks and narcotics.

jason.felix@inl.co.za