Can Ajax do it again? That is the question leading up to Saturday’s Absa Cup soccer final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town in Durban.
It will be the fourth time the two sides meet this season, and in the three previous encounters Ajax got the better of the Premier Soccer League champions.
The Cape side beat them 2-1 on two occasions in the league and ousted Sundowns in the inaugural Telkom Knockout Cup semifinal 5-3 on a penalty shoot-out after the game ended 1-1.
The question, therefore, is can Ajax do it again?
To answer yes would undermine the league champs and to say no, would be foolish, considering the past season’s results.
Looking at the (proposed) starting 11 of both sides, any football follower would back Sundowns, but considering Ajax’s Cup exploits this season, one could back the Cape side.
Sundowns coach Gordon Igesund has now won his fourth league title, Surprise Moriri was the Castle Premiership Player of the Year last year and the title was grabbed by teammate Godfrey Sapula this time around.
In goal, Calvin Marlin is the Premiership’s best keeper, and rightly so — his team only conceded 17 goals. This is not a team short on skill, as the likes of Manqoba ”Shakes” Ngwenya and Peter Ndlovu can be called up from the bench to replace such players as Josta Dladla and Lerato Chabangu.
This, however, is a cup final and Ajax are in their second cup final of the season — they did not qualify for the SAA Supa8.
Surely the experience of making it to the Telkom Knockout final and losing to Silver Stars will stand the Urban Warriors in good stead.
Their passage to the Telkom final was not an easy one as they saw off Moroka Swallows (quarterfinals) and Sundowns (in the semis) before succumbing to the might of Stars.
And under the tutelage of Turkey native Muhsin Ertugral, youngsters like Bryce Moon, Franklyn Cale and Clifford Ngobeni have shone in the league too.
In the Absa Cup both teams have shown great spirit as they battled to advance through to the finals.
The youthful Ajax beat city rivals Santos 1-0 in the semifinals while Sundowns came from behind to force a penalty shoot-out (they won 5-4) against the uncompromising Stars.
The road has not been easy for either side, who are all too familiar with each other by now.
Sundowns, though, as league champions don’t want to falter again at the feet of the high-spirited Ajax, and with the double in sight have more to lose than their humble opponents.
Ajax have shown that they have the quality and ability to be a threat and should be worthy opponents. — Sapa