For Ajax Cape Town, it would seem it never rains, it just pours. Having recently welcomed back influential players Rivaldo Coetzee, Mosa Lebusa, Tashreeq Morris and Prince Nxumalo from injury, the luckless Ajax were this week hit with the news that striker Nathan Paulse fractured a cheekbone and recent signing Lebohang Mokoena is down with a hamstring strain.
The Urban Warriors face SuperSport United in the opening round of the Telkom Knockout in Atteridgeville on Saturday (8.15pm kickoff) and considering Ajax’s stuttering start to the season, this is an opportunity to pick up the whiff of victory and, hopefully, galvanise some momentum into a squad short on confidence and self-belief.
Paulse is set to have an operation and will be out for some time, while Mokoena will have to be assessed before head coach Roger de Sa decides whether to include the experienced midfielder, or not.
But, irrespective of the circumstances, Ajax are in a precarious situation. After five games played in the PSL, they are still winless (two draws and three defeats). There’s a definite sense of unease among their followers and whether Ajax admit it or not, the apprehension will be felt throughout the corridors of the club as well.
There’s only one way to banish this anxiety and that is winning football games. Results are what matter in this business (note: it’s business, not sport - because that essentially is what the modern game has been reduced to). De Sa, professional that he is, will be keenly aware of this.
While he may not as yet be under pressure (Ajax are not a club quick to panic), the coach will know that, if things continue the way it has over the last few weeks, then the heat will most definitely come.
The loss of Paulse, who is always such an important presence for Ajax, may on the surface look to be a blow but considering the team’s struggles in front of goal, perhaps his absence is a blessing in disguise.
For Ajax, this ostensible setback may just contain the grains of something different, something fresh.
With Paulse in attack, the team has at times been far too predictable and the opposition have been able to counter the Urban Warriors simply by cutting off the supply line to the big striker. Now, sans Paulse, they have no choice but to try something new.
As individuals, players will be forced to be more proactive, to play with greater instinct and freedom, instead of always looking to bring Paulse into the game. Just perhaps, that is a good thing, especially with Ajax desperate for inspiration and in serious need of their first win of the season.
In SuperSport, though, they face a team in superb form. Having taken over as head coach last season, Stuart Baxter’s bedding-in period appears to be over. His philosophy has finally permeated the squad and the results are slowly but surely arriving.
Matsatsantsa come off a 4-1 hammering of Highlands Park - after which Highlands fired Allan Freese and appointed Gordon Igesund as head coach - and Baxter’s men will be keen to maintain their momentum.
SuperSport have a top-class squad, filled with some of the best footballers in the PSL. Combative Bafana midfielder Dean Furman has at last found his feet, while New Zealand striker Jeremy Brockie is among the goals again (he scored twice against Highlands). The form of these two players alone should be a warning for Ajax as they prepare to face SuperSport.
Camps Bay-born Furman, who has played most of his football in England, initially battled when returning to South Africa to join SuperSport. But the penny has finally dropped and the 28-year-old is back to his brilliant best. His recent performances for Bafana - 1-1 draws with Burkina Faso and Ghana - were outstanding.
So, Ajax and SuperSport enter the cup tie in contrasting situations - the one craving for the taste of victory, the other cock-a-hoop with confidence.
Cape Times