AJAX Cape Town coach Maarten Stekelenburg has urged his players to show more concentration in the closing stages of matches as they prepare to welcome Platinum Stars to the Cape Town Stadium tonight.
The Urban Warriors have been involved in a number of frenzied finishes to games over the past six months that have done nothing for the young coach's heart.
This was the case the last time Dikwena visited the stadium as Stars led 2-0 going into the 88th minute, but somehow contrived to lose the game 3-2. That time the late drama went in favour of Ajax, but in their last league outing they themselves conceded three goals late on to let a lead slip in their 3-1 loss to Moroka Swallows.
And for a side that leaked goals at an alarming rate last season, that is not a good sign.
"Statistics say that there are more goals late in games, but also I think we need to show more composure and concentration than we did against Swallows," Stekelenburg says. "It is something that we are working hard on with this young group of players and it is something that we need to improve quickly.
"We will be looking for that improvement against Platinum Stars, who are a very good side this season under Cavin Johnson. Cavin knows the 'Ajax way' very well from his time here and he has set up his side to play a lot like we do this season."
Failure to get a positive result in this match will see the pressure raised on Stekelenburg, who could only manage a ninth-place finish with the team last season. He can rightly point to mitigating circumstances, like the loss of key players in the transfer window, but says he has no fear in playing his teenage stars. Ajax have no suspensions, while the only injury concern at the moment is midfielder Nhlanhla Vilakazi, who is on the verge of exiting the club. Stars have two injury worries. Left-winger Tintswalo Tshabalala was concussed in the 2-1 loss to Celtic last week, while Elias Ngwepe has an ankle injury.
Ajax coach says focus!
AJAX Cape Town coach Maarten Stekelenburg has urged his players to show more concentration in the closing stages of matches as they prepare to welcome Platinum Stars to the Cape Town Stadium tonight.
The Urban Warriors have been involved in a number of frenzied finishes to games over the past six months that have done nothing for the young coach's heart.
This was the case the last time Dikwena visited the stadium as Stars led 2-0 going into the 88th minute, but somehow contrived to lose the game 3-2. That time the late drama went in favour of Ajax, but in their last league outing they themselves conceded three goals late on to let a lead slip in their 3-1 loss to Moroka Swallows.
And for a side that leaked goals at an alarming rate last season, that is not a good sign.
"Statistics say that there are more goals late in games, but also I think we need to show more composure and concentration than we did against Swallows," Stekelenburg says. "It is something that we are working hard on with this young group of players and it is something that we need to improve quickly.
"We will be looking for that improvement against Platinum Stars, who are a very good side this season under Cavin Johnson. Cavin knows the 'Ajax way' very well from his time here and he has set up his side to play a lot like we do this season."
Failure to get a positive result in this match will see the pressure raised on Stekelenburg, who could only manage a ninth-place finish with the team last season. He can rightly point to mitigating circumstances, like the loss of key players in the transfer window, but says he has no fear in playing his teenage stars. Ajax have no suspensions, while the only injury concern at the moment is midfielder Nhlanhla Vilakazi, who is on the verge of exiting the club. Stars have two injury worries. Left-winger Tintswalo Tshabalala was concussed in the 2-1 loss to Celtic last week, while Elias Ngwepe has an ankle injury.
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