Ajax Cape Town haven’t had the best of starts to the PSL season, but head coach Stanley Menzo is confident things will turn for the better soon.
The Cape side hosts Polokwane City in a PSL fixture at the Cape Town Stadium on Friday night (8pm kickoff) and the former Ajax Amsterdam and Netherlands goalkeeper took the opportunity at Thursday’s press conference in Parow to reveal the club’s latest player acquisition.
Menzo doesn’t always get too excited about players, but there was a glint in his eye when he spoke of Soumaila Ouattara, the 22-year-old central defender from Burkina Faso.
A free agent, the Burkinabe was able to pen a deal with the Cape club outside the transfer window.
While Ouattara won’t be available against Polokwane on Friday – Ajax are still awaiting a work permit – Menzo had no doubt the player would be vital for the rest of the season.
“On a recommendation, we decided to have a look at him,” said Menzo.
“After just one training match, everybody could see that he is a very good defender, and we signed him.
“He is strong, still young, which gives him lots of room for improvement. He reminds me a lot of Sanchez of Ajax Amsterdam.”
Menzo appeared to have forgotten that the Sanchez he was referring to – Columbian Davinson Sanchez – had since transferred to Tottenham Hotspur in England.
One thing is clear, though, if Ouattara is just 50 percent of Sanchez, then Ajax have captured a really good player.
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