Cape Town – New Ajax Cape Town coach Muhsin Ertugral walked into Thursday’s Cape derby press conference almost an hour late because his bosses couldn’t get him off the training field.
Ertugral certainly didn’t waste any time getting to work in his third stint at Ajax, replacing Jan Versleijen as the new man in charge at Ikamva.
Versleijen, appointed in January to try and steer the Urban Warriors up the table, quit the job after hearing the news that Ertugral was being roped in as head of technical affairs to assist him for the last four games of the season.
But it seems like he won’t be missed, as the troubled Ajax directors came out and put forward a united front when they announced the appointment of Ertugral to lead the team to safety, starting with Saturday night’s crucial derby against Chippa United.
Ertugral eventually strolled into the press conference, wearing a familiar striped shirt and smile. He looked around the packed conference room to greet a few familiar faces. It was like he’s never been gone.
In fact, Ajax’s head honchos George and John Comitis looked a tad more nervous than him at the main table. But both also looked relieved, as their club was in the hands of a familiar figure.
“It would be a crime if I woke up on Sunday morning knowing that we didn’t get the three points in possibly the biggest game of the club’s history, and that we haven’t done everything we could have to help the team,” John Comitis said on Thursday.
“What I can say publicly is that the two families that have been accused of feuding have come together as one, and decided to put all our differences aside for the sake of the club,” George Comitis said.
Those words must be music to the ears of every Ajax supporter. But it’s Ertugral that must be relieved by that statement. He can now get to work in his own unique style to try and lift Ajax off the scrapheap.
But he won’t be on the touchline for Saturday’s match, as he needs to obtain a work permit. But he will be assisted by head of scouting Jan Pruijn, who was also in charge of the team earlier this season, and the club’s successful under-19 coach David Nyathi. Versleijen’s assistant Ian Gorowa’s contract was also terminated on Thursday.
Second-from-bottom Ajax are only three points ahead of the in-form Chippa, and a loss on Saturday night could see them struggle to claw their way back up the standings.
Ertugral, though, is up for the challenge, and he hopes to take the new-found spirit in the boardroom and transfer it to the players on the pitch.
“I spoke to the directors, and I can feel the energy. I can feel that this spirit is going to pass on to me and the players. I think we can achieve a lot in four games. If I had any doubt in my mind that we can’t make it, then I wouldn’t be here,” Ertugral told reporters.
The Turk, who led Ajax to fourth spot in the league and the Absa Cup in his first stint in charge, says he does have the tools to save Ajax from the drop. But it’s getting the tools “to believe that they can do the job” that is going to be key.
“I’m not a coach at the moment, I’m more of a psychologist,” he said. “We don’t have a magic stick. The only thing we can do is motivate and believe in the players. I looked at the Leopards game on TV, and the boys’ heads were down and it seemed they lacked self-belief.
“Obviously I have shortcomings in terms of my temper, but football is war, and this is a war issue. You need to take quick decisions, and sometimes you are not the nice guy. For me, it’s all about the fight. If we can do that, half the battle is won.”
One of those tools Ertugral desperately needs to fire is striker Mabhuti Khenyeza, with whom he had a fight during their time at Kaizer Chiefs. But it seems the two have kissed and made up a long time ago.
“Mabhuti is a professional, so am I. There are no egos here. If there were egos, you can ask me the question ‘How is it possible that a coach like you comes for four games?’ Professionalism is important. Mabhuti is very clever and is a good boy. Our (differences) were sorted out,” said Ertugral.
The man who is probably going to mark Khenyeza in the derby, Mbulelo Mabizela, on Thursday said Chippa’s new coach Harrison may finally be the right man for the club.
“I think all coaches have their different structure of coaching. The other coaches came with their structures, it didn’t work, and then Mark came and it worked,” Mabizela said. “I think he brought the spirit back, and maybe the players are listening more this time round.”
Chippa coach Harrison, who has only been at the helm for two games himself, yesterday said he didn’t worry too much about what’s happening at Ajax. –Cape Times