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Ajax determined to reclaim the Cape in derby

Cape Town - After two derby losses last season, Ajax Cape Town defender Roscoe Pietersen says the club owe it to their supporters to beat Cape Town City on Saturday.

Last season's first-ever two derbies between the two teams went the way of the newly-formed City, who won both league matches 1-0 and 2-0.

The Citizens also won the Telkom Knockout in 2016 and finished third in the league (compared to Ajax's 10th position).

This season City have already reached the MTN8 final, and are just three points off the top of the table, with a game in hand.

Their success won't be lost on the Urban Warriors, and Pietersen says Stanley Menzo's side are determined to try and reclaim some lost pride.

"I think the team is starting to gel nicely now," he told the Cape Argus, after they claimed four points from their last two matches.

"The coach's philosophy is coming through, especially as far as the tactical approach is concerned, and we will get better as the season progresses.

"For us, we want to reclaim bragging rights for the club and our supporters as the premier team in the Cape - we owe it to them and we are up for it. No motivation is needed, we just want to win the city back."

The 28-year-old is, meanwhile, expected to come up against his cousin, City centre-back Robyn Johannes.

"This will be the first time we will play against each other," Johannes revealed. "It's going to be quite special.

"The game will take us back to the days we watched derbies at Athlone and always told ourselves that we wanted to be involved one day. Our families will be there to support us, but half will be in blue and the other half will be in red."

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