Ajax and and Cape Town City - the good, the bad and the ugly

Rodney Reiners reflects on how the two Cape Town PSL clubs have fared so far. Photo by: Phando Jikelo

Rodney Reiners reflects on how the two Cape Town PSL clubs have fared so far. Photo by: Phando Jikelo

Published Sep 30, 2016

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With the PSL on a break for this weekend’s MTN8 final and next week’s international programme, perhaps it’s the ideal time to reflect on how the two Mother City clubs - Cape Town City and Ajax Cape Town - have fared up to now...

Cape Town City

The Good

So far, so good! The challenge now lies in how the new PSL club sustains the impact they've had on the local game, both in the Cape and in the rest of the country.

Established in June, the strides City have made are impressive. A new club, a new squad, a new coach, a new everything, yet they have managed to capture the imagination of the public.

To crown it all, they then proceeded to garner the results as well - the mighty Kaizer Chiefs were dusted off, Orlando Pirates was comprehensively outplayed and they also emerged victorious in the Cape derby against Ajax.

The support for the club has been phenomenal. To think there was nothing in June, and now there is a clamour from potential fans who want to follow the Cape’s newest top-flight club.

On the field, too, the achievement has been impressive. Most notable has been the manner in which the Mpumalanga Black Aces contingent have immersed themselves into the culture of Cape football. (City were formed when John Comitis bought the PSL franchise of Black Aces).

In attack, City have played with verve and flair, while in defence, especially against Chiefs, they were doughty and resolute. There’s a spirit in the squad that is infectious and, if they keep it up, they should do well this season.

The Bad

In a word, inconsistency. The erratic nature of City’s performances is the biggest concern for coach Eric Tinkler. As much as the team impresses, just as much they are their own worst enemy, especially in the manner in which they have conceded goals.

There is a desperate need for City to keep their shape more consistently. City were outstanding against Pirates and Ajax, but then floundered on Tuesday, in a rather forgettable 1-1 draw with promoted Highlands Park.

The other worrying issue for City is the time it is taking for the new foreign players to adapt to the PSL. Austrian Roland Putsche, Australians Matt Sim and James Brown and Latvian Renars Rode have all had game time, but they’ve not really set the league alight.

They’ve struggled with the pace and aggression of the PSL and the team has been carried by the Black Aces bunch. For example, Putsche played in the Austrian Bundesliga last season and has Europa League experience, while Brown was described as ‘the darling of the Australian league’, but neither - as yet - has lived up to their reputations.

Perhaps the foreigners still need time, but this is a professional sport - time is in short supply, especially when results are paramount.

And The Ugly

Because City are such a new club, they haven’t had too much time to cause any major mishaps or controversy. But the one blot on their short existence is a 3-0 drubbing by Wits in the semi-final of the MTN8.

It wasn’t so much the defeat; it was the hapless first-half performance against the Clever Boys that remains such an unpleasant mark on the club. It will also serve as a reminder of what City need to avoid in the future.

Ajax Cape Town

The Good

Let’s start by saying that Ajax have put together a really competitive squad. They’ve made some astute signings, there’s depth, there’s youth, there’s experience and, if they don’t achieve their goals for the season, then they only have themselves to blame.

This is one of the most balanced and exciting squads they’ve had in a while. They’ve played some good football, and their build-up work has been excellent. There may be a few top clubs who are popular in the PSL, but there’s nothing better than watching Ajax when they are in the groove.

When their passing game is on song, and when their confidence is high, it’s difficult for teams to live with the Urban Warriors.

Thabo Mosadi, the new winger signed from the University of Pretoria (to replace Riyaad Norodien, who joined Pirates) has been a fantastic addition. He has been a refreshing presence out wide, impressing with his pace and confidence to take defenders on.

The arrival of fan favourites Mark Mayambela and Lebogang Mokoena has also boosted the club’s appeal from a promotional aspect.

The Bad

Need we say it, it is a constant refrain with Ajax year after year, week in and week out, game after game: they just cannot score goals.

The build-up work is great but the final ball, that vital decision in the final third, is missing. Scoring chances are created in abundance, but the composure is absent.

If Ajax are to do justice to the quality of their squad, they have to learn to kill off the opposition, and that implies finishing the opportunities they create.

The other major problem has been alluded to by Ajax coach Roger de Sa, when he referred to some of his players as having ‘the heart of a peanut’. There is a lack of courage, a deficiency in determination, and an absence of fight when the going gets tough.

Going hand in hand with this trait is Ajax’s penchant for losing concentration at crucial stages of a match. Coaches preach that players must stay in the moment and focus for the entire 90 minutes.

They need to develop the mentality that they don’t play the result and accept only the things they can control, like their performance and response in game situations. This is something that is desperately needed at Ajax: forget the result, play to their potential. The players have to realise that the only thing in their control is their performance, nothing else - so focus only on that, and the rest will follow.

And the ugly

It was rather perplexing to see, in the aftermath of the Cape derby defeat, that some Ajax supporters were calling for De Sa to be axed. Really? After just four games?

In truth, Ajax had opportunities to win all four games but they didn’t, and that’s just the nature of the sport. But to be pointing fingers at the coach, who took the club to two cup finals (one won and one lost)?

As already stated, this is the first time that De Sa has a squad with the depth he has always desired, and he deserves the time to work with it. If it doesn’t happen for him within the next few weeks then, by all means, call for his head. But now, especially when Ajax are yet to win in their opening four games, surely this is no time to panic - cool heads are needed.

Cape Times

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