Rivaldo can be in the shop window

Rivaldo Coetzee of Ajax Cape Town during the Friendly Football Match between Ajax Cape Town and Bidvest Wits at Ikamva, Parow, 13 July 2015 ©Chris Ricco/BackpagePix

Rivaldo Coetzee of Ajax Cape Town during the Friendly Football Match between Ajax Cape Town and Bidvest Wits at Ikamva, Parow, 13 July 2015 ©Chris Ricco/BackpagePix

Published Jul 23, 2015

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Cape Town - Ajax Cape Town’s youth brigade has an opportunity to continue its learning and experience curve in the weekend’s Cape Town Cup.

The benefits of playing against quality opposition like Sporting Lisbon and Crystal Palace cannot be under-estimated. And there’s no doubt that the experience, knowledge and information garnered will stand these youngsters in good stead as they make their way in the game.

This pre-season event has been long in coming, but Ajax and the City of Cape Town have finally managed to make it happen. The two parties are confident of growing the tournament in the coming years, and also in attracting a few of the Mother City’s favourite overseas clubs.

On Friday at the Cape Town Stadium, English club Palace open the Cape Town Cup against Pretoria team SuperSport United (5.45pm), after which Ajax host Portugal’s Sporting (8.15pm).

It continues on Sunday, with the two losers playing at 1pm, followed by the final between the two winners at 3.30pm.

A player keen to make his mark in the event is Ajax’s 18-year-old star central defender, Rivaldo Coetzee.

Coetzee had a stellar campaign with Ajax last season, so much so that he has recently been the subject of transfer speculation, both locally and abroad. Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns have been hovering, while Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam remain first in the queue if Coetzee decides that Europe is the destination.

The teenager has also been a regular for Bafana Bafana - and it’s no secret that Ajax will battle to hold on to the defender in the near future. He’s just too good to be playing in the PSL.

The Cape team’s assistant-coach Ian Taylor, though, said that, for now, Coetzee will remain with the club. As such, the Cape Town Cup provides the precocious teen with an opportunity to, again, demonstrate to the Mother City what all the fuss is about. Also, with teams like Sporting and Palace in attendance, he has a chance to put his talent and ability in the shop window.

Taylor was confident that Coetzee would see out the season with Ajax.

“Obviously, we are well aware that the player is in demand,” said Taylor, who also coached Coetzee in the junior ranks.

“Ajax Amsterdam are watching… but I think he will stay one more season. What’s important, too, is that he wants to be here, he’s committed to the club.

“He believes that, at this stage of his career, Ajax is the best place to be.”

But, not only that, with captain Travis Graham out injured and not able to provide the defensive midfield cover in front of the defence, Coetzee has the added responsibility of making sure the Capetonians aren’t breached.

Also, with two experienced defenders having left Ajax - Nazeer Allie to Wits and Dominic Isaacs (still clubless after his contract wasn’t renewed) - the lad from Kakamas in the Northern Cape is now expected to be the team’s defensive rock.

Coetzee developed a sound centre-back partnership with 20-year-old Abbubaker Mobara last season, but Ajax have made no secret of the fact that they are looking to strengthen this area with a tall, aggressive player.

“We are definitely looking at reinforcing in central defence,” said Taylor. “It will give us more options when we play against teams who play a direct brand of football ... also, we will be competing in Africa this season and I think we will need a centre-back with height and presence.

“While both Riva and Bara (Coetzee and Mobara) were very good last season, it’s also important that we make sure they have competition.

“If we have to have other quality defenders pushing them, then they know they cannot afford to have a bad game. In this way, they add consistency to their game and it ensures that they always improve.”

Graham, the inspirational 22-year-old leader, has a hamstring tear, is expected to be absent for the next three weeks, which means he will sit out the weekend’s Cape Town Cup, next week’s start of the MTN 8 competition and, the following week, the opening match of the PSL campaign away to Wits.

It’s a real pity as overseas opposition like Sporting Lisbon and Crystal Palace would have been a great challenge for the industrious central midfielder from Grassy Park.

Graham was injured while doing duty for the SA under-23 team in a friendly against Egypt last month.

The Cape Town Cup, though, provides another fantastic opportunity for Ajax’s other young guns to continue their progress. The professionalism of the European clubs and the quality of their squads are certain to stimulate the emerging footballers at the Cape club - and it’s a chance for them to demonstrate just how much experience they have gained, especially as most of them now enter their third season of top-flight football.

The event kicks off at the Cape Town Stadium in Green Point on Friday, with Palace taking on SuperSport United (5.45pm), followed by Sporting against Ajax at 8.15pm. On Sunday, the two losers do battle at 1pm, with the final between the two winning sides scheduled for 3.30pm.

Cape Times

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