Ajax's winelands visit is no siesta

AJAX Cape Town will head to the quiet surrounds of Stellenbosch for a gruelling few days for the players as they prepare to meet Manchester United at the Cape Town Stadium on July 21.

The Urban Warriors have used their pre-season to date as a roadshow around the Cape Town area, playing matches against local invitational sides from Fish Hoek, Sunningdale and the Paarl area.

They have combined these matches with signing sessions for supporters and coaching clinics for local kids as they attempt to drum up support ahead of the new campaign.

But things will turn more serious on Saturday when the team goes into camp in Stellenbosch for five days, before returning to the Mother City to train at the Cape Town Stadium next Friday ahead of their meeting with the Red Devils.

Ajax coach Maarten Stekelenburg will use the Stellenbosch stay for what has been described as an intense period of training, where the physical demands on the players will be raised.