Cape Town - Ajax Cape Town coach Roger de Sa will have to juggle his strike-force for Sunday’s Premiership match against SuperSport United at Cape Town Stadium.
De Sa will be without in-form attacking weapon Thabiso Nkoana for the match against the striker’s parent club.
Nkoana picked up a fourth yellow card in the Telkom Knockout quarter-final against Orlando Pirates at a drenched Orlando Stadium. But he wouldn’t have played anyway, because of the loan agreement between Ajax and SuperSport.
At least Ajax will be able to call on the experience of veteran targetman Nathan Paulse, who made his first start for the Urban Warriors last Wednesday in the 2-1 victory over Platinum Stars following a knee injury. Paulse has also made two appearances off the bench.
Nkoana has been one of the signings of the season for Ajax, with his high work-rate and his ability to get into the penalty area and scoring goals.
Paulse may now play in the middle of Ajax’s front three, which is likely to include winger Franklin Cale slotting in on the left side and Tashreeq Morris keeping his place in the right. This will allow Keagan Dolly to continue his free role in the middle of the park to add some creativity in the final third of the pitch.
Paulse and Cale will also add some height and physicality to Ajax’s defensive effort from set-pieces after the Cape side conceded three goals from dead-ball situations in their past few matches.
But Cale and Paulse’s main job will be to hurt SuperSport on attack. Cale has a lovely and accurate left foot, while Paulse is fantastic in finding space in the box and can latch on to any ball whipped in with pace and swerve.
The Pretoria outfit, though, are a lot more organised and defensively solid since Gordon Igesund took over from Cavin Johnson a few months ago. And Igesund will be even more alert as far as their shape is concerned after they lost 4-1 to Maritzburg United in their last outing in the league.
Meanwhile, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) confirmed on Tuesday that a moment of silence will be observed at all fixtures until the end of the weekend to mark the passing of Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.
Cape Times