Santos looking for home win

Santos go into Friday's Absa Premiership clash with Black Leopards at Athlone Stadium (8pm, kick-off) boosted by the announcement of a lucrative two-year sponsorship deal with Parmalat SA for the club's youth development projects and also that star striker Erwin Isaacs was chosen as the first winner of the R10 000 Premiership Player of the Month award.

Isaacs, a product of the club's excellent development programme, is looking to lead his side to victory against a Leopards line-up in dire straits due to endless turmoil within their ranks.

Two coaches have departed the hot seat in recent weeks, and much-travelled Sheppard Murape has become the latest to tackle the unenviable task of trying to turn around the Limpopo-based club's flagging fortunes.

"I am happy with the award, but could not have achieved it without the help of the entire team," said Isaacs on Thursday.

"We are on a high at the moment, and the boys are looking good for another home win. Leopards will be tough because they need the points to save themselves from the relegation axe, but we need only to play with the same passion and intelligence of recent weeks."

Goalkeeper Wayne Roberts, another player in fine form these days, admits to being a tad nervous about the encounter. Roberts, 29, has been a catalyst for many victories since Botswana-born David Bright took over from Jean Marc Ithier.

"The players really came to the party for the new coach," he said. "But I am nervous about this one because Leopards will be desperate to win and will no doubt come at us from the start."

Gangly striker Eleazar Rodgers was confident of adding to his goal tally.

"We are still in with a chance of lifting the league trophy, so we cannot afford to be complacent. Leopards will not simply lie down, but such is the confidence and spirit in our camp that no one is thinking about anything but winning."

Meanwhile, Ajax Cape Town face a tough couple of weeks that could make or break their season.

The Urban Warriors are in the Seychelles for the weekend's return leg of the Caf Cup first-round tie against Anse Reunion, and when they head back, it will be straight into a punishing schedule of away league outings against Moroka Swallows, Free State Stars and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Ajax lead 1-0 from the home leg, which coach Craig Rosslee believes should prove sufficient if they get their defending spot-on and hit their hosts on the counter.

"They have to come at us," he said. "If we defend right and play with patience on the break, we will make it through to the next round."

Ajax travelled without Dipsey Selolwane and Sifiso Vilakazi, who are not registered for the competition, but welcome back Clifford Ngobeni and Nazeer Allie from injury. Right back Bryce Moon will also sit out due to an injury sustained while on duty for Bafana Bafana in the recent friendly against Paraguay.