Panathinaikos wants Bafana player

Ajax Cape Town defender Bryce Moon could soon be lost to South African football if interest from top Greek club Panathinaikos is anything to go by.

The Athens giants were this week enquiring about the possibility of snapping up a Bafana Bafana player destined to feature in the 2010 World Cup.

Moon has shaped well as a right back, but that, ironically, has stifled his attacking prowess, so perhaps Ajax coach Craig Rosslee could do worse than to allow the speedy star the freedom of the right flank against Platinum Stars in an Absa Premiership fixture at Athlone Stadium on Wednesday night.

He's no slouch in front of goal either, his vision affording him the ability to steal into the box at the right moment.

If Rosslee resists the change, then perhaps Sunday's Caf Cup match against Anse Reunion of the Seychelles presents an even better opportunity for Moon to unleash his pace and guile on unsuspecting opponents.

Moon has confirmed talks of a move to Panathinaikos, also the home of Bafana teammate Nasief Morris, adding that the official word had to come from his business manager, former Orlando Pirates coach Mike Makaab.

"(Mike) has been in touch with me about the interest from (Panathinaikos), and I am obviously delighted about the prospects," he said. "I am up to the challenge, and should the move materialise, I would imagine settling in quickly (through) having Nasief around."

That's in the future, and first there is the small matter of lifting the league championship. Ajax enjoy a one-point lead over SuperSport United and, as Moon says, winning at home has become non-negotiable.

"Losing in the (Nedbank Cup) against Kaizer Chiefs was disappointing, but perhaps with the Caf Cup fixtures also starting this week, that might turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

"Stars are something of an up-and-down team, but we will afford them some respect because they also need the points to push for a place in the top eight.

"It's a big match for us because we're in the home straight and we want to keep ahead of the chasing pack, so winning is the only thing on our mind.

"We obviously need a nice boost of confidence before the weekend's (Caf Cup) match."

Moon, 21, who initially made his mark on the right wing for the Urban Warriors, ranks as one of the best crossers of the ball from out wide.

He would be an even bigger hit in the national team once coach Carlos Alberto Parreira goes for a more expansive game plan and not the rigid 4-5-1 system which effectively blocks off the right back.

In the original Brazilian-styled 4-4-2 system, the emphasis has always been on overlapping full backs, something Parreira may have ignored in recent years, hence his lack of success with the mostly inexperienced Bafana selections.

"I find it best not to stress over team selections, because it's not something I can change in any case," said Moon. "I try to adapt to whatever role I am given, be it at club or international level.

"The truth is that playing in defence in recent times has had its advantages because I now have the benefit of a higher work ethic when I am forced to drop back after having gone on a run to the byline."

The football reality, however, is to first use a player's attacking qualities before asking him to prop up the rearguard. Moon can create and score goals.

He is in his element speeding forward with the ball seemingly glued to his right boot. There is hardly a substitute for pace and accuracy from the flanks, hence the fact that around 80 percent of goals are scored following some play on the wing. That's the hallmark of all great football sides.

Ajax can, in fact, count on beanpole strikers Nathan Paulse and Russell Mwafulirwa to make merry under the high ball, so it would make perfect sense for Rosslee to hand Moon a license to thrill against Stars.

"Our football has always been marked by clever wing play, and that has been one of the main reasons behind my short learning curve.

"You can't do it without the support of the frontrunners, though, but that we leave to the coach. He decides on who plays and how we're going to play."

With the Cape club only recently having lost top scorer Terror Fanteni, Ajax fans will no doubt call on Moon to step on the gas to help the ambitious outfit to a maiden league championship.

That would certainly soften the blow of having to part ways with yet another star performer in the red and white shirt.