After three defeats, Ajax 'have got it right'
Have Ajax Cape Town finally got it right?
That question will be answered at Newlands on Friday night when coach Gordon Igesund sends his struggling Ajax team out to face an unpredictable African Wanderers side.
A cloud of uncertainty still hangs about Igesund though.
The coach was ordered by the Cape High Court to return to his previous club Santos after he failed to see out his two-year contract with the club.
Igesund has since appealed the court's decision.
On Wednesday Santos attempted to get a temporary interdict restraining Igesund from coaching Ajax - an application refused by Judge Dennis Davis.
Igesund's appeal will be heard by a full bench of the Cape High Court next week, so for now he remains the coach of Ajax.
On the field after three embarrassing defeats in the new Premier League campaign - 2-0 to Supersport United, 1-0 to Wits University and a 5-0 drubbing by rookies Dynamos - Ajax had no choice but to push the alarm bell.
Seven players were axed from the squad, two Ghanaians signed, the entire club staff given a good grilling about complacency, and the first team squad was taken on training camp to build morale and improve fitness.
Now they are ready, say club boss John Comitis and Igesund.
"The defeats were a good wake-up call," Comitis said. "We have now had time to get the engine going again. The players are motivated, they know what is expected of them and the focus is finally what it should have been at the start of the season.
"I went along on the training camp and had individual sessions with each player. It was fruitful and the players know what is expected of them. There's a new attitude and I expect to see a new Ajax fighting machine out there tomorrow (Friday) night."
The squad has been trimmed to 22 from the original 27. Goalkeeper Oscar Ramagoadi is being loaned to a First Division team in Johannesburg, defender Ashley Opperman and striker Rashied Thorne are going on loan to Avendale Athletico and Lynch Pule, the South African under-20 captain, and Graham King are being loaned to Juventus, also in the First Division.
Duncan Lechesa has also gone on loan - to Black Leopards in the Limpopo province.
Junaid Hartley, who played only two games for Ajax, has been allowed to leave because of "personal problems".
The two new signings from Ashante Goldfields in Ghana are Robert Amoako and Anthony Baffoe - and Comitis expects the duo to have a major impact on the team this season.
It hasn't been the best of times for Igesund since taking over at Ajax. He has tasted success at every club he's coached, but everything has gone wrong for him this season.
Time has been against him, he said. He never had time to fully prepare the squad; he never had time to imprint his philosophy on his new players.
Ajax have had a two-week break and Igesund has used the time to prepare his team mentally and physically. He believes he's got it right. Things will get better. He says it will turn around.
Teams:
Ajax Cape Town: Calvin Marlin, Moeneeb Josephs, Andile Sixaba, Dominic Isaacs, Thulani Ncube, Duran Francis, Brett Evans, Shane Poggenpoel, Yanga Gcileshe, Sibusiso Mzizi, Shaun Oliver, Dillon Sheppard, Orlin Powell, Edzai Kasinauyo, Rowan Hendricks, Robert Nauseb, Bradley August, Nathan Paulse, Brent Carelse, Grant Igesund, Anthony Baffoe, Robert Amoako
Wanderers: Eugene Baleta, Denzel Bruwer, David Solopi, Simphiwe Jack, Lungani Mchunu, Humphrey Mlwane, Mpuduzi Mdadla, Tholomuzi Blose, Welcome Mazibuko, Simphiwe Thomas, Gas Mlungwane, Mlungu Mnguni, James Mothibi, Nkosinathi Mqobongo, Mbongeni Mthembu, Muzi Mthiyane, Morgan Nkathazo, Samuel Tcubana, Fortune Tlhaplaedi
- Fixtures
Friday: Wits University v Santos (Milpark); Ajax Cape Town v African Wanderers (Newlands, 8pm)
Saturday: Dynamos v Supersport United; Sundowns v Hellenic (Loftus, 3.30pm); Jomo Cosmos v Black Leopards; Kaizer Chiefs v Golden Arrows