Derby offers vital league points



27 November 2009

Santos have the opportunity to leapfrog Ajax Cape Town and move into second position on the PSL table when they meet the Urban Warriors in a Cape Town derby at the Athlone Stadium on Saturday night.

At present, only a single point separates the two high flying Cape Town teams, who are both very much in the title race.

Santos have however scored six more goals that Ajax, and conceded four less, and. The Peoples’ Team have already beaten the Urban Warriors, 2-0, in the first round derby.

Following the start of the second round of Absa Premiership fixtures, both teams have managed just a single point in two games (a 1-1 draw for Santos against Celtic, and a 0-0 stalemate for Ajax against Free State Stars), and will thus be determined to get back to winning ways, adding fire and passion to what should be a full-blooded derby affair.

Santos however can count themselves unlucky not to have earned a draw against Kaizer Chiefs, when they had what appeared to be a legitimate goal ruled out.

Santos coach Boebie Solomons believes that the away point earned against Celtic at their Seisa Ramabodu Stadium fortress will stand his side in good stead in the derby.

“The Engen Santos FC team goes into the Cape Town Derby against Ajax Cape Town after a moral boosting draw against Bloemfontein Celtic in Bloemfontein.

“The Derby will be one of the most anticipated Derbies in recent years as both teams are doing very well. The match is also the first game back at the newly revamped Athlone Stadium and it is fitting that the Engen Santos FC and Ajax Cape Town match takes place,” says Solomons.

Regardless of the outcome of this game, there are going to be some interesting duals all over the park...Bongi Macala is going to have his work cut out to keep Franklyn Cale under wraps…Mogogi Gabonamong will come up against his countryman – former Santos player Dipsy Selolwane…The likes of Eleazar Rodgers, Erwin Isaacs, Ryan Chapman and Phikolethu Spelman will be relishing the chance to run at Ajax’s European central defenders – Deniss Ivanovs and Derek Decamps – who are still finding their feet in the Absa Premiership.

The Santos side has Thabiso “Stix” Ntloana still serving suspension for red card against Kaizer Chiefs. On the injury side, only Tawonga Chimodzi is out with a knee injury - everyone else is available for selection.

For the opposition, the likes of Brett Evans, Sameehg Doutie and Stanton Lewis are expected to remain sidelined with injury, while Nhlanhla Shabalala in suspended.