A constantly improving Ajax Cape Town will hope to continue Maritzburg United’s misery when they meet at Cape Town Stadium for an Absa Premiership encounter on Friday evening. Kick-off is at 8pm.
The Urban Warriors come into the fixture with buoyant spirits after having taken their first win on the road last Tuesday evening against SuperSport United.
It was an all round positive performance for Muhsin Ertugral’s men, who welcomed the return of Toriq Losper to the first team, while Eleazar Rodgers broke his goals-coring drought and goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola continued to show promise in between the sticks.
The former, who missed the Swallows match due to internal reasons at the club, said he is hoping to mirror his performance from last year against the Team of Choice by scoring a goal.
“I started off the season very badly with the injury. I set a goal that I wanted to score at least ten goals this season, but I haven’t been scoring, maybe this is the breaking point for me now,” says Losper.
“Against SuperSport I played the 90 and I will be hoping to do it this time. Maybe I will show the coach I need to stay in the first team.”
And after seeing Clinton Larsen’s men fall to a defeat in three successive matches, Losper is wary that the visitors may approach the game with a cautious attitude.
“I think we are on a high but we mustn’t go into the game expecting to win. We must still work hard as a team and maybe the result will come our way,” he continued.
“They may be playing defensively because of their three [game] losing streak. Because he doesn’t want to give points away I think he [Clinton Larsen] will play very defensively.
“I think he is trying something different with the team. It is not working his way so they will definitely be defensive.”
Maritzburg’s latest defeat was at the hands of Orlando Pirates at the Harry Gwala Stadium and their drop in form has dampened the team’s disposition.
Larsen says the build-up to the Ajax game has been about the renewed the spirit in the team as well as preparing for a possible change in formation by the Cape club.
“We have been trying to lift the spirits from our last game against Pirates, which we should’ve got something out of,” said an optimistic Larsen.
“The boys have responded well and we have only one blow in the injury to Reece Evans. Other than that, the boys are coming back from injuries.
“We only have four players out now so things are looking on the up.
“We are coming up against an improving Ajax side with each game and it will be difficult. We know it is never easy playing them and this game will be a six pointer.
“Only one point separates us on the log so we will have to go all out.”
Ajax have often changed from their traditional 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 and the former Bloemfontein Celtic man added that his side will cope well should the same scenario occur on Friday.
“We have prepared for them- for any changes they make in formations,” continued the 42-year-old.
“We know Muhsin has at least changed formations two or three times and I have assembled the team in a way that we can adjust to either formation he uses.
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