Jury still out on depth in City, Ajax set-ups

CAPE TOWN - The good thing about football is that there’s always another game. It may be a popular coach’s cliche that “you’re only as good as your last game”, but it’s a truism that definitely has its roots in truthfulness.

For Ajax Cape Town and Cape Town City, there is much comfort to be found in those words. At both Cape PSL clubs, there is sure to be an abundance of red faces, especially after ignominious exits in the Nedbank Cup to lower-tier amateur sides.

While both Ajax and City made a number of changes to their starting teams - to allow others an opportunity for game time - it doesn’t provide any excuse for defeat. Depth is vital to any top-flight club. Throughout the season, both Cape sides have spoken highly about the fact that they believe they have sufficient quality in reserve to cope with the hurly-burly of the PSL season. After losing to little-known Second Division campaigners KwaDukuza United (Ajax) and Acornbush United (City), the jury is out on whether they have the depth to sustain their objectives: In City’s case, a title challenge; for Ajax, to avoid an embarrassing relegation fight.

But, in football, there’s always an opportunity for redemption, a chance to make amends after a poor performance. With both Ajax and City in league action this week, they can quickly put the Cup aberration behind, and use the upcoming fixtures to get back on track.

Ajax host Free State Stars at the Athlone Stadium on Friday night (8pm kickoff) - and, for the Capetonians, nothing less than a win will suffice. Their log position is starting to get a touch precarious. The Urban Warriors are in 12th position on the standings, while Ea Lla Koto are 14th. Needless to say, this game is a real scrap for points, and top-flight survival.

In the defeat to KZN’s KwaDukuza, Ajax coach Stanley Menzo had key defenders Rivaldo Coetzee and Mosa Lebusa out injured. Ghanaian Lawrence Lartey and Zimbabwean Erick Chipeta were paired in central defence, while teenager Yagan Sasman was roped in at left-back to fill in for Lebusa. The Ajax coach also left out both wingers - Thabo Mosadi and Mark Mayambela - to allow them some rest. He wanted to have a look at a few other players - and he challenged those coming in to show him that they are ready. As it turned out, it doesn’t appear that they were able to rise to the occasion. Now, with an important game against Stars coming up, no doubt Menzo will revert to his strongest selection.

For City, after coming up short against Mpumalanga side Acornbush, Saturday’s PSL encounter against Bloemfontein Celtic takes on even greater significance. Not only is it a case of shaking off the shame of the Cup defeat, there is also no room for error for teams at the top of the log. Second-placed City are level on points with log leaders Wits, on 38 points, but with SuperSport United, Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns all in close proximity at the summit, a win is crucial for the Capetonians to maintain their title challenge.

Celtic, meanwhile, are stuck in 13th position. They’ll be desperate for points, and they’ll be eager to impress their new coach, Belgian Luc Eymael.

Eymael quit Polokwane City last week, citing a disagreement with his employers, and a few days later he was installed as coach of the Bloemfontein club. The 57-year-old had done a great job at Polokwane, who are currently in seventh position, and he is confident he can steer Celtic to PSL safety.