Ajax Cape Town winger Bryce Moon is fit, ready and very excited to take on Mamelodi Sundowns in the Absa Cup final on Saturday in Durban.
The Pietermaritzburg-born player is hoping to put in a match-winning performance for his family and friends who will be at the match, and especially for the Bafana Bafana selectors.
”I do my best in every game and Saturday’s will be no different as I hope to impress the Bafana selectors,” Moon said, quickly adding: ”But because it’s a Cup final, I think more effort will be put into it, not just by myself, but by the whole team. My hometown is not far from Durbs, so my family and friends will be there to watch as well.”
Ajax have beaten Sundowns three times this season and Moon believes this clash will not be as easy as saying they have beaten the league champions three times.
”Yes, we have beaten them before, but that does not mean it will just happen again, and I don’t think they want it to happen either, so this is going to be a very tough, intense game. We are fit, ready and excited to play and I can’t wait,” he said.
Ajax coach Muhsin Ertugral has warned his team of becoming complacent and over-confident, and despite the cold and wet weather the excitement is obvious.
”The coach reminded us we should not become overconfident because of our record against them, and our preparations have been going quite well. Everyone is giving their best at training and we’re all in high spirits, and besides a few injuries, everyone else is fine.”
Moon identified Godfrey Sapula as a threat to their dreams of lifting the Absa Cup, saying the dreadlocked playmaker has a way of getting goals, despite being singled out for special treatment.
”Godfrey always seems to get scoring chances and to create them as well, even if he has someone marking him closely. He is very skilful and clever and can win a game on his own,” Moon said.
”Upfront they have good strikers in [Jose] Torrealba and [Lerato] Chabangu, their midfield too is packed with skilled players like Surprise [Moriri] and Josta [Makgala], and it’s never easy playing against these guys.”
This will be Ajax’s second Cup final this season. They lost 3-1 to Silver Stars in the final of the Telkom Cup, and in the same competition the Cape Town boys ousted Sundowns in the final on a penalty shoot-out.
In the semifinals of the Absa Cup, Ajax beat city rivals Santos 1-0 and Sundowns beat Stars in penalties to reach the final. — Sapa
Kick-off is scheduled for 8.10pm on Saturday night