Cape Town - Ajax Cape Town’s injury crisis so early in the new Premier Soccer League season is well-documented, but coach Roger de Sa still had high praise for his squad.
Ajax take on Maritzburg United at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night (kick-off 8.15pm) - and De Sa will again be relying on those he has called “warriors” in the hope of picking up the three points on offer.
“A few players are definitely out for the Maritzburg game, while we still have to assess a few more before deciding on the final selection,” De Sa said. “But those who have played this season have really put in the work, they’ve been warriors.
“For example, Prince Nxumalo has had to play a role upfront, and he’s been brilliant. I hope it continues.”
Nxumalo signed for Ajax last month and he’s been a wonderful acquisition for the team. With Nathan Paulse out injured early in the season (he has returned to the squad, but De Sa says he’s not ready for 90 minutes yet) and the club still awaiting a work permit for new Zimbabwean signing Thomas Chideu, Nxumalo is the only striker in the squad.
He has carried the load with maturity and aplomb. He’s a bustling forward with a fantastic touch, and able to hold up things in attack and bring teammates into play. Nxumalo’s contribution to the Urban Warriors has been exemplary - and he’s confident of continuing in the same vein.
“It was tough initially,” he said. “I had to get used to a new system, to the way Ajax play football. It has been a settling-in period, but it’s gone well, and it should only get better.”
Nxumalo is originally from Umlazi in Durban. Determined to plot a career in professional football, he arrived at Cape National First Division club FC Cape Town for a trial. He impressed, was snapped up, and had a great season for the Parow-based club.
On the back of his sensational exploits for FC Cape Town, he was signed by SuperSport United. Things never went according to plan there, and he was sent out on loan to Golden Arrows in Durban.
There, Nxumalo inspired Arrows to promotion to the PSL last season.
Having watched the player perform in the NFD, De Sa was keen to lure the player back to the Cape, a transfer which was achieved last month.
“My aim is just to contribute as much as I can to the team,” Nxumalo said. “The club has ambitions, like the league title, we are also in the semi-finals of the MTN8, so I just want to make sure that I help Ajax be as successful as they can.”
In opponents Maritzburg, though, the Urban Warriors are expecting a really tough encounter. And it’s particularly the Capetonian in the Maritzburg squad - Kurt Lentjies - who is a concern for De Sa.
“Kurt is a key part of their game,” the Ajax coach said. “Last season, when they beat us 1-0, he killed us with one moment of brilliance and set up the winner with two minutes to go. He is the engine that makes Maritzburg tick, He’s a spectacular player and needs special attention.Q
“But this is the first home league game of the season. We did well last season, we only lost one home game against (Kaizer) Chiefs. We have to try to maintain that.
“We come out of a tough Cup game against Wits and now we have to shift our focus to the league and try to get some points.”
PSL Fixtures
Saturday: University of Pretoria v Polokwane City; Mamelodi Sundowns v Wits; Black Aces v SuperSport United; Kaizer Chiefs v Free State Stars; Ajax Cape Town v Maritzburg Utd (Cape Town Stadium, 8.15pm)
Sunday: Jomo Cosmos v Golden Arrows; Bloemfontein Celtic v Platinum Stars
Weekend Argus