Cape Town - Cape Town City and Ajax Cape Town players are hoping to put on a show at Cape Town Stadium on Friday night (8pm).
The two clubs are set to play each other for the first time, and Urban Warrior’s Mark Mayambela and City Boy Thabo Nodada are psyched to give the Mother City’s fans something to cheer about.
Nodaba, who is eyeing a season debut, says: “It’s a territory battle. It’s one where the winner gets to own Cape Town. It’s great that my team gets to be part of this battle. We are a competitive bunch and we’ve started gelling.”
Mayambela wants to shut up the noisy neighbours and told coach Roger de Sa that he can set Ajax hitman Nathan Paulse up for a hattrick should he get a chance.
He says: “Nathan knows what will have happen if I play next to him. He was upset the other night that he only got one [in Wednesday’s PSL 1-1 draw with Polokwane].
“He knows if I was playing he would have scored a hattrick. So know you know the score.”
City have not scored in four games, but coach Eric Tinkler says it’s a collective effort and backs strikers Judas Moseamedi, Lehlehonolo Majoro and Sibusiso Masina to bury their chances.
Tinkler says: “All we can do is trying to improve the finishing. It all starts with creating opportunities. We lost our top scorer Collins Mbesuma at the start of the season, but I asked the players if Collins scored or if they made the chances and they told me they made the chances. If Majoro gets the service he will score.”
Meanwhile, Ajax boss Roger de Sa says he needs his guys to stay focused on getting their first win of the season, because the derby still only counts three points.
But he and good pal Tinkler, who was his assistant coach at Orlando Pirates, have a standing bet over what happens after the match.
“I like to win either way. Eric and I have an agreement. If he wins, he buys the dinner. If I win, I buy dinner. Either way, I score.”
@extrastrongsa
Independent Media