Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Ajax Cape Town captain, Travis Graham, believes experience will be of paramount importance this season as the Urban Warriors aim to do battle on four fronts.
Ajax finished fifth in the PSL last season to qualify for the MTN8, and they will also compete in the CAF Confederations Cup after reaching the final of the Nedbank Cup.
The Mother City club will have to tackle these added duties, despite releasing and selling several seasoned campaigners recently.
However, Graham, 22, believes the first team has enough experience on hand, despite the long list of departures.
“Experience is going to be really vital because we are competing in a lot of different competitions, so having the different guys around like Nathan (Paulse), (Granwald) Scott, Franklin (Cale) and also Anssi (Jaakkola) is going to be important,” he said.
“They have been in these situations already and they have played in those competitions. There experience is a must and we are going to need it.”
Ajax released stalwart defender and former captain Dominic Isaacs, and former Bafana Bafana midfielder Lance Davids in June after their contracts came to an end.
Nazeer Allie, another former captain, and talented midfielder Keagan Dolly have also departed Ikamva; moving to Bidwest Wits and Mamelodi Sundowns respectively.
The club also said goodbye to Wits midfielder Erwin Isaacs, who spent the second half of the season on loan in Cape Town.
Roger de Sa, Ajax’s coach, has made four additions to the squad so far, and admitted that he is in the market for another winger and a centreback.
Midfielders Ruzaigh Gamildien and Ndiviwe Mdabuka were signed on free transfers from National First Division team’s Milano United and Vasco da Gama respectively.
Ajax have also brought in two new strikers, with Prince Nxumalo joining from Supersport United and young Zimbabwe striker Thomas Chideu joining from Bulawayo’s Highlanders FC.
“We all starting on zero points, so we all have opportunity to show the country that Ajax can compete with the top guns again,” Graham said.
“There are a lot of players who have left, but hopefully Ruzaigh Gamildien, Ndiviwe Mdabuka and Prince Nxumalo are to good signings to help boost the team again.”
Ajax kick off the 2015/2016 season against Orlando Pirates at Cape Town Stadium in the MTN8 on Wednesday, August 5 before starting their Absa Premiership campaign against Wits on Saturday, August 8.
