Platinum Stars reckon they could not have picked a better time to play Ajax Cape Town in their Absa Premiership clash at Newlands on Wednesday night. Kick-off is at 7.30pm.
After watching the Urban Warriors go down 2-1 after extra time to First Division giant killers Pretoria University in the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup at Milpark on Sunday, Stars assistant coach Cavin Johnson, left the ground smiling.
Said Johnson: ”I believe for once Ajax are ready for the taking at their home ground. They are one of the toughest sides to beat at home. We have not beaten them in Cape Town in recent matches and hope we will get it right on Wednesday. They come off a bad loss in the Cup that will be hard to recover from in the space of a couple of days and we are ready to take advantage.”
AmaTuks beat Ajax more convincingly than the score suggests. After running themselves into the ground with a stunning pacey first half display, AmaTuks were flat after the break but Ajax failed to capitalise or rise to the big occasion and Tuks deservedly won the right to play another Premier Soccer League outfit, Moroka Swallows, in the May 23 Cup final.
Said Johnson: ”I was surprised by Ajax. For once a PSL club´s better technical ability failed to help them. ” But Stars who cleared the relegation hurdle with a sparkling 4-0 hammering of Maritzburg United at Potchefstroom´s Olen Park last time out, are determined to keep the winning momentum going.
However, Stars will not be playing percentage football in an effort to beat the home side whose coach Craig Roslee, will have a tough task in lifting his side after losing to the lower league underdogs.
Said Johnson: ”We have four matches remaining to complete our season and we aim to play decent football against Ajax and hopefully steal the win. We are going there positive and try and win it by playing good football.”
Johnson said the 4-0 drubbing dished out to Martitzburg had lifted the spirits in the camp. ”We know we are capable of producing quality football and the goal is not really finishing in the top eight — if that happens it will be a bonus, but we are going to use the remaining four matches to show what quality we have and try and end the season with a bang.”
The ever improving young striker Bradley Grobler, and strike partner Luis Renteria plus left wing Dillon Sheppard, pose the main threat to Ajax.
Roslee said he would make chances and bring in the likes of defender Nazeer Allie and midfielder Nhlanhla Shabalala, and rest a few of the tired legs that we exposed against the hard running AmaTuks.
Roslee has targeted winning his remaining two home matches in a bid to qualify for the top eight. — Sapa