Cape Town - The Mother City’s two PSL clubs have a lot to play for going into the final week of action before the PSL breaks for the Christmas recess.
The season will resume on February 7 next year. The longer break is to accommodate the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Gabon next month.
Cape Town City would dearly love to end the year at the summit of the log, while a much-improved Ajax Cape Town, after a nightmare start to the season, have an opportunity to secure a position in the top half of the table.
Both teams are in action on Wednesday. Ajax host Chippa United at the Cape Town Stadium, while City are in Bethlehem for a potential banana skin against Free State Stars at Goble Park.
For City, a win ensures an unassailable position at the top of the PSL standings. For Ajax, having registered four wins in their last five games, a home success over former Cape side Chippa, will elevate the team to a position of safety.
Both sides come off positive responses to defeat. City, after losing 4-0 to Platinum Stars, rattled back with a good performance in a 1-1 draw with SuperSport United. Ajax, after a disappointing 2-1 loss to Highlands Park, were impressive in putting Bloemfontein Celtic to the sword 3-0 at the weekend.
Ajax have, over the years, gained a reputation for being poor travellers and struggling to play away from home. But, under new coach Stanley Menzo, pictured, there has certainly been a turnaround in this regard.
“After the loss to Highlands, the players knew we had to get a good result against Celtic on Saturday,” said Menzo. “I thought in the first half we disorganised them well, they couldn’t find a gap in our defensive line. In the second half, they pressed us more and we gave away an unnecessary penalty. The fact that they missed the kick was a turning point in the match - and we went on to win the game and take the three points.”
The match in Bloemfontein was yet another indication of Menzo’s resolve to blood the next generation of youngsters. With midfielder Grant Margeman and defender Shane Saralina already exposed during Menzo’s brief tenure, the weekend saw the former Netherlands goalkeeper give a debut to 19-year-old Langa-born winger Masilakhe “Scarra” Phohlongo.
Margeman, 18, impressed as a substitute in the defeat to Highlands last week and Menzo rewarded the rising star with a starting berth against Celtic. The midfielder from Bonteheuwel put himself about and had a huge role in creating the opening goal for teammate Ndiviwe Mdabuka.
“Grant knows what is expected of him,” said Menzo. “He is improving with every game and he is becoming a very important player in the team.”
In Port Elizabeth-based Chippa on Wednesday, Ajax are up against a team known for its entertainment value and its ability to break down defences with their quick-passing style of football. Menzo has, so far, proven to be a clever, astute tactician - it will be interesting to see how he approaches the game against the Cape club’s former neighbours.
Over at City, they have a bit of a problem going into a fixture against struggling Stars, the PSL’s basement club. It’ll be top versus bottom - and that, as anybody in football will attest, is often a recipe for disaster for the team at the top.
City’s headache concerns the unavailability of captain Lebogang Manyama and Austrian Roland Putsche (both suspended). Both players have been hugely influential in the Cape side’s magnificent run of form, and head coach Eric Tinkler faces a selection poser.