Two more Premier Soccer League (PSL) sides return to work on Tuesday when Ajax Cape Town and SuperSport United begin their pre-season preparations.
Ajax have had a slightly shorter break after their appearance in the final of the Nedbank Cup‚ but despite having players called away for national team duty for the senior and under-23 sides‚ coach Roger de Sa feels they have had enough rest.
“I think it was sufficient‚ we are a young squad and are looking forward to getting going‚” De Sa told Times Media.
“We will have two new faces in training which is always good to see — Ruzaigh Gamildien and Ndiviwe Mdabuka‚ who we signed pre-contracts with — but that is all for now.
“We will also be looking at eight boys from the development to see who is ready for the first team. We have made the decision that we will look internally first at what we have before we go into the transfer market.”
De Sa admits that he will be working with a small squad again this season‚ which will pose a challenge when they begin their campaign in the 2016 African Confederation Cup.
“We have a squad of 25 presently‚ and that includes the eight youngsters who we are looking at‚ so it is a small squad. We need to look for a centre-back and a striker‚ and probably someone to add a bit more physical presence to the midfield.”
De Sa says that the Cape Town Cup‚ which also includes Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon‚ English Premier League Crystal Palace and SuperSport United between July 24-26 will be the focal point of their pre-season‚ but he is looking to take the team on the road‚ too‚ before then.
“We are working on a trip to the Highveld to have some matches away from home. We know we weren’t that good on the road last year so it is about giving these young boys some more experience.
“Other than the Cape Town Cup we will also play against other visiting PSL teams to Cape Town‚ there are always quite a few‚ and we have a number of NFD teams here to play against as well.
“We are not desperate to get away‚ we have great facilities here at Ikamva‚ so we should use them.”
SuperSport coach Gordon Igesund will have a first pre-season with the club as he aims to turn the side back into title challengers after some lean years.
He will run his eye over players who were loaned out last season — including striker Thabiso Nkoana who went to Ajax — before making a final decision on their futures.
Ajax’s De Sa to look internally before going into the transfer market
Two more Premier Soccer League (PSL) sides return to work on Tuesday when Ajax Cape Town and SuperSport United begin their pre-season preparations.
Ajax have had a slightly shorter break after their appearance in the final of the Nedbank Cup‚ but despite having players called away for national team duty for the senior and under-23 sides‚ coach Roger de Sa feels they have had enough rest.
“I think it was sufficient‚ we are a young squad and are looking forward to getting going‚” De Sa told Times Media.
“We will have two new faces in training which is always good to see — Ruzaigh Gamildien and Ndiviwe Mdabuka‚ who we signed pre-contracts with — but that is all for now.
“We will also be looking at eight boys from the development to see who is ready for the first team. We have made the decision that we will look internally first at what we have before we go into the transfer market.”
De Sa admits that he will be working with a small squad again this season‚ which will pose a challenge when they begin their campaign in the 2016 African Confederation Cup.
“We have a squad of 25 presently‚ and that includes the eight youngsters who we are looking at‚ so it is a small squad. We need to look for a centre-back and a striker‚ and probably someone to add a bit more physical presence to the midfield.”
De Sa says that the Cape Town Cup‚ which also includes Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon‚ English Premier League Crystal Palace and SuperSport United between July 24-26 will be the focal point of their pre-season‚ but he is looking to take the team on the road‚ too‚ before then.
“We are working on a trip to the Highveld to have some matches away from home. We know we weren’t that good on the road last year so it is about giving these young boys some more experience.
“Other than the Cape Town Cup we will also play against other visiting PSL teams to Cape Town‚ there are always quite a few‚ and we have a number of NFD teams here to play against as well.
“We are not desperate to get away‚ we have great facilities here at Ikamva‚ so we should use them.”
SuperSport coach Gordon Igesund will have a first pre-season with the club as he aims to turn the side back into title challengers after some lean years.
He will run his eye over players who were loaned out last season — including striker Thabiso Nkoana who went to Ajax — before making a final decision on their futures.
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