CAPE TOWN - Rivaldo Coetzee and Travis Graham return for Ajax Cape Town as they prepare to take on PSL log leaders SuperSport United in a PSL fixture at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Saturday (kick-off 8.15pm).
Coetzee is back after missing the previous match - a 1-1 draw with Kaizer Chiefs - because of an ankle injury.
The 20-year-old defender’s availability is particularly opportune for Ajax coach Stanley Menzo because Ghanaian defender Lawrence Lartey is suspended. It means Coetzee (pictured) can step straight back into the team to partner Roscoe Pietersen in the centre of defence.
Graham is back from suspension, but his position is not as simple. Menzo admits he will have to “think” about the midfield area, especially in light of the fact that the three central midfielders - Ndiviwe Mdabuka, Bantu Mzwakali and Zambian new man Rodrick Kabwe - performed admirably against Chiefs at the weekend.
“Sometimes injury and suspension can change a team in a positive way,” said Menzo. “That’s just the nature of football. I will have to think about who to play in midfield. Sometimes, when it comes to selection, a coach just has to go with the feeling he has about a player. But I’m sure whoever sits out will understand that it is for the good of the team.”
Menzo will also need all his football knowledge and experience as a top-level player and coach in Europe to suss out a strategy to deal with the PSL’s pacesetters.
While he believes it’s far easier to analyse a “structured, organised” team like SuperSport, coming up with solutions offers a far more difficult challenge.
“It’s easy to see how SuperSport play,” said the former Ajax Amsterdam and Netherlands goalkeeper.
“They like to play between the lines, they are organised and they have very special qualities like their transitional play and strength at set-pieces. They are also very patient and will wait and wait for an opportunity.
“We will have to find a way to compete and get a result. We conceded a goal from a set-piece in the previous game to Chiefs and that is an area where SuperSport are strong.
“This week, we spoke about it, my training sessions have focused on it, and it is an area where we need to improve
“We also know about their transitions - and here it’s important that, when we lose the ball, we react quickly. We have to pressure them, get back behind the ball and don’t give them the time and space to counter.”