Cape Town - Stanley Menzo is rapidly adding to the already impressive array of qualities of Ajax Cape Town central defender Rivaldo Coetzee.
The former Ajax Amsterdam and Netherlands goalkeeper’s arrival as the new head coach about six weeks ago has had a positive, profound effect on the Ajax squad. And Menzo’s most notable influence is to be found in how 20-year-old Coetzee’s game has been altered.
Ajax host Chippa United in their final PSL fixture of the year at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday (kick off 7.30pm) - and, again, the new-look Coetzee will be on show.
Schooled in the Ajax Amsterdam way, and heavily influenced by having worked under Dutch master Johan Cruyff, Menzo is slowly introducing some of the key aspects of the Dutch football philosophy. Because of the Netherlands’ obsession with movement and space, their central defenders have always been composed, ball-playing footballers, who are confident in possession. This is what Menzo has asked of Coetzee - and, boy, has the lad from Kakamas in the Northern Cape adapted to the role.
“Since the coach (Menzo) has come in, the mentality of the team has changed,” said Coetzee. “As a defender at the back, I can now also use the space ahead of me and travel into midfield. It’s done to create an extra man in midfield and, in this way, catch the opposition off-guard.
“It’s a part of my game I’ve always wanted to improve. So, I’m enjoying getting into midfield areas, getting more involved, and affecting the game in that way. It also allows me to link up with the attacking players in the team. We are doing very well now, we are scoring goals and we are not conceding as many as we used to.”
Coetzee has revelled in his new role. In the 3-0 win against Bloemfontein Celtic in the Free State on Sunday, he regularly carried the ball, from defence deep into the opposition half, which allowed Ajax to constantly have Celtic on the back foot.
As for Chippa, Coetzee is expecting another tricky, tough encounter. The Capetonians have won four out of their last five games and are determined to finish the year off in style. But, in Chippa, they know they are up against quality opponents.
“We know the type of football they play,” said Coetzee. “We are aware of how good they are on the ball I think we play a similar type of football, in that we also love to play out from the back. So, it’ll be tough, but we come off a good away win over Celtic and we want to build on that.
“The important thing, however, is that we don’t want to focus too much on what Chippa do. We want to focus on our own strengths and we will be ready for whatever Chippa throws at us tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Eric Tinkler has some crucial selection decisions to make as Cape Town City prepare to take on Free State Stars at Goble Park in Bethlehem tomorrow night (kick off 7.30pm). The suspension of skipper Lebogang Manyama and influential Austrian Roland Putsche is a major blow as the Cape side looks to finish the year at the summit of the PSL log.
As things stand, City set the pace with 25 points, followed by Wits on 24 and SuperSport United on 22. The Capetonians need a win to ensure they enter the new year as log leaders.
City coach Tinkler has a few options as he considers how to replace Manyama and Putsche.
City’s success has been founded on the use of two holding central midfielders - Putsche and Mpho Matsi. This duo activates the press, makes the tackles, and acts as the glue that holds everything together. There was a scare that Matsi, too, may not make tomorrow’s game when he left the field last Friday with a deep gash to the back of his head. But he’ll be available tomorrow, albeit with the six stitches.
To replace Putsche, Tinkler is expected to move left-back Thato Mokeke to central midfield, with Ebrahim Seedat deployed on the left side of the defence. Manyama, though, is difficult to replace, not only because he is in such fantastic form, but his role as leader is just as vital. Tinkler’s options are Bongolethu Jayiya, Australian Matt Sim and Given Mashikinya. But, considering Tinkler’s desire for similarity, it’s more than likely that he’ll opt for winger Jayiya.