Memories will be rekindled to the first final after Absa took over the sponsorship of South Africa’s premier knockout competition when Santos and Ajax Cape Town meet in what is perenially a fiercely contested derby at Athlone Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Santos on that occasion upset the odds to gain a memorable triumph and coach Roger de Sa believes his team can repeat the feat in what is always a highlight on the Cape Town soccer calendar.
”We have not had the best of results against Ajax in the past two seasons,” says De Sa, ”drawing or losing all the matches against our foremost Cape Town rivals”.
But the Santos coach believes his team has run into their best form at the most appropriate time and have the tools to upset Ajax’s youthful array of budding stars.
”I think we know a bit more about their strengths and weaknesses than most other teams in the PSL,” says De Sa, ”and this should see us in good stead”.
Standing formidably in the way of any Santos success, however, will be former Bafana Bafana goalkeeping stalwart Hans Vonk, who has almost single-handedly steered Ajax to recent success against teams like PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.
And with Ajax’s Muhsin Ertugral hoping to take another step forward in his proclaimed intention to ”build a team for the future”, the coaching battle of wits with De Sa could also be a decisive factor as to who qualifies to meet Sundowns in the final. – Sapa