Cape Town - New Ajax Cape Town assistant-coach Mich d’Avray is happy to be back “home” - and, just a week into pre-season training, he is already impressed with the prodigious talent of the club’s emerging youngsters.
Though born in Johannesburg, it was as Cape Town Spurs head coach in 1995 that D’Avray endeared himself to the Cape’s football followers.
He assembled a top class Spurs squad and inspired the team to a league and cup double that year. He then moved to Australia, where he enjoyed a successful period with Perth Glory.
On his return to South Africa, he worked at Bloemfontein Celtic and Chippa United. He is now back in the Mother City - and looking forward to the challenge.
“There has been ongoing talks with the CEO (Ari Efstathiou), so when the opportunity came along this season, it was a no-brainer,” said 54-year-old D’Avray. “With the talent in the Cape, and the professionalism of this club, it was hard not to accept.
“We’ve had a week’s training now. The tempo has been good, there has been a lot of hard work, and I’ve been impressed with the quality and ability of the squad.
”Ajax have three new players on board - Zimbabwean defender Eric Chipeta, Portuguese striker Joaquim Lupeta and wing Thabo Mosadi - and D’Avray confirmed a few more would be joining before the close of the transfer window on August 31.
The Cape side has, however, lost Abbubaker Mobara and Riyaad Norodien (both to Orlando Pirates), while goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola is on the verge of signing for Reading in the English Championship.
Coach Roger De Sa believes both young goalkeepers, Brandon Petersen and Jody February, are ready to step up.“To cover for the loss of Mobara and Norodien, we have Chipeta and Mosadi,” said D’Avray.
“Chipeta I know well from my time at Chippa, he’s an experienced defender and will assist and guide the youngsters in the squad. Mosadi (signed from University of Pretoria) will provide us with pace and on the wing and we are expecting good things from him this season. Lupeta is a powerful forward, and is one to watch this season. We still have to polish him off a bit, but he’s impressive.”
Cape Argus