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06 February 2020
Ajax Cape Town caretaker co-coach Dylan Deane says the club have prioritised Nedbank Cup success this season even as they chase promotion from the GladAfrica Championship. Ajax will start their Nedbank Cup journey at home to fellow second-tier side TS Sporting on Thursday night at the Athlone Stadium, hoping at the very least for a repeat of their 2015 final appearance when they were unlucky losers on penalties to Mamelodi Sundowns.
"At the beginning of the season we set ourselves goals and ambitions. And one of those was to compete in all competitions, so our goal in the Nedbank Cup is to do as well as we can. Our objective against TS Sporting is definitely to progress to the next round,” Deane said. "We are not prioritising any competition. We want to win games and win trophies this year, if it is the Nedbank Cup or the league, we are going full out for it. This is not just another game, every football match is important."Ajax lost 1-0 at home to Sporting in the league last month, which came on the back of a fantastic run of wins. Deane is hoping for better this time round. "We were on a fantastic run, we had won six or seven games in a row. But against Sporting we were a bit flat, they got a goal against the run of play and we struggled to open them up,” the coach said. "So we have worked on some things, getting the boys to understand how to play against teams that drop with the reinforced block, but the players also realise that there is no easy games, which is important.
"When you are Ajax Cape Town, everybody wants to beat you in every game, there is high intensity and every game is a challenge for us." Deane and former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Calvin Marlin are caretaker co-coaches of the side after their Dutch coach Andries Ulderink resigned last week. Deane has praised the players for their attitude through what has been a difficult time. "They have refocussed themselves. I think they were disappointed, but they understand the club is not about one individual, but the institution of Ajax.They are drivi" ng themselves, they have been fantastic all season and they are still working hard, he said. "We have a really young team and in certain situations we see the youth, that inexperience coming through, but in the last two games we have been better. It is important we put in good performances." Deane says Ajax will have to watch our for Sporting forward Decide Chauke, who has the potential to cause them big problems with his pace and creativity. "They have got a danger up front with Chauke, he is quite a mobile player who likes running from deep. He has individual skill and likes to take you on.
"He creates moments for them in your attacking third, so we need to deal with him." Ticketsfor the Nedbank Cup Last 32 are on sale at TicketPro outlets and selected SASOL garages countrywide. Prices will start at R40 for adults, and R15 for children under the age of 12. Supporters can also purchase tickets online at www.ticketpros.co.za.
*The views represented are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent those of Nedbank.