Ajax Cape Town F.C.

Ajax Cape Town
Full name Ajax Cape Town Football Club
Nickname(s) Urban Warriors
Founded 1999, merger of Seven Stars
and Cape Town Spurs
Ground Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Ground Capacity 55,000
Chairman Ari Efstathiou
Manager Roger De Sá
League ABSA Premiership
2014–15 ABSA Premiership, 5th

Ajax Cape Town (Afrikaans: Ajax Kaapstad[1]) is a South African football club based in the Parow suburb of the city of Cape Town that plays in the Premier Soccer League. Dutch Eredivisie club AFC Ajax is the parent club and acts as the majority shareholder.[2]

History

Ajax Cape Town was formed in 1999 by Rob Moore and John Comitis via the amalgamation of two Cape Town-based teams, Seven Stars and Cape Town Spurs, as AFC Ajax expanded their worldwide talent-feeder network to South Africa.

Ajax, nicknamed Urban Warriors, played their first official game against Kaizer Chiefs in the Iwisa Charity Spectacular on 17 July 1999. Ajax caused an upset when they beat Chiefs 1–0 with Sam Pam, the Ajax Cape Town captain, scoring the winning goal.

Former South Africa national team coach Gordon Igesund, the country's most successful club coach,[3] who won league titles with Manning Rangers, Orlando Pirates, Santos and Sundowns, coached the club from 2002 until 2006.

Since coming into existence, Ajax has never won the league title with their highest finish being runners-up in 2003–04 and 2011–12. Ajax managed to win the Rothmans Cup in 2000, the Nedbank Cup in 2007 and most recently the Telkom Knockout in 2008.

In January 2007 Ajax CT managed to beat AFC Ajax 3–1 in a friendly game held in Cape Town. The next friendly, played in Amsterdam, ended in a 3–2 win for AFC Ajax in July 2009.

Over the years several Ajax CT players have made the step to the mother club, among them Steven Pienaar in 2002, Daylon Claasen in 2009, Eyong Enoh in 2008 and Thulani Serero in 2011.

In July 2013, following an abysmal 2012–13 campaign which saw Ajax Cape Town going through four managerial changes and just nearly escaping relegation, it was announced that George and John Comitis, longtime shareholders of the club, had sold their shares of the club back to AFC Ajax and that George would step down as the chairman of the club.[4] Ari Efstathiou was announced as the new chairman, and Muhsin Ertuğral was reinstated as manager of the club, following an interim managerial period after originally being hired as the clubs new technical director.[5]

In September 2015, Ajax won the 2015 MTN8 tournament edging Kaizer Chiefs 1–0 in the final.

Youth program

Since the inception of the club from its merger under Rob Moore, Ajax Cape Town have imported the AFC Ajax philosophy and effective youth development schemes in the Western Cape. The majority of the senior squad players have come up from the club's own youth ranks, such as the likes of Nazeer Allie, Granwald Scott and Thulani Hlatshwayo, while others such as Steven Pienaar and Thulani Serero have moved on to some of the top clubs in Europe.

With the introduction of the Ajax Cape Town Community Scheme in conjunction with the South African Police Services, Ajax CT also provides football opportunities to young people within the greater Cape Town area regardless of race, gender, social status or disability, facilitated through structured programs in a safe and fun learning environment.

Since then the Ajax Cape Town Community Scheme has been implemented in more than 120 schools across the Western Cape as far as the Cape Winelands, reaching more than 8 000 children.[6]

Stadium

Main article: Cape Town Stadium

In the beginning Ajax CT played their home games at Athlone Stadium and Newlands Stadium. The latter is a 51,900 capacity venue, which was first built in 1888, and was also host to the 1995 Rugby World Cup opening match. Essentially being a rugby stadium, it was a home they shared with clubs Santos and Vasco da Gama, as well as rugby teams Stormers and Western Province. Athlone Stadium was home to the Santos and has a capacity of 30,000. The stadium located in Athlone, Cape Town was also host to some of Ajax CT early home matches as well.

Moving to the Green Point Stadium, an 18,000 seat multi-purpose stadium in the Green Point area of Cape Town. The stadium was eventually demolished in 2007 to make way for the new Cape Town Stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Construction of the new stadium was completed in 2009, and the Urban Warriors have played their home games at the Cape Town Stadium since the beginning of the 2010-11 Premier Soccer League season to an improved capacity of 55,000. On 3 August 2011 a contract extension of three years was negotiated with the stadium, which will see Ajax CT playing their home games there until 2014.[7][8]

The first match played at the new stadium was a Cape Town derby between Ajax CT and Santos on 23 January 2010 as part of the official inauguration of the stadium.

Ajax Cape Town also has a modern training facility called Ikamva located in Parow, Cape Town (33°53′45.5″S 18°34′41.5″E / 33.895972°S 18.578194°E / -33.895972; 18.578194). It serves as the training grounds for the senior squad, as well as for the Ajax Cape Town Youth Development Academy. It has hosted a number of foreign clubs among them German Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart during their midseason camp in 2014 as well as Viking FK from Norway.[9]

List of Ajax Cape Town managers

Notable former players

Honours

Cup competitions

Winners: 2015
Winners: 2000, 2008
Winners: 2007

Preseason

Winners: 2007, 2008

Performance in CAF competitions

Continental appearances

2005 – Final Group Round
2009 – First Round
2008 – First Round of 16

Continental results

Season Competition Round Country Club Score CCP (1)
2005 Champions League Preliminary Round  Swaziland Mhlambanyatsi Rovers 1–0, 1–1 2.0
First Round  Burkina Faso ASFA Yennenga 1–0, 0–1
Second Round  Guinea Fello Star 2–0, 0–2
Final Group Round  Nigeria Enyimba 1–1, 2–0
 Morocco Raja Casablanca 1–1, 0–3
 Egypt Al Ahly 2–0, 0–0
2008 Confederation Cup First Round  Seychelles Anse Réunion 1–0, 4–1 1.0
First Round of 16  Cameroon Mount Cameroon FC 5–1, 0–5
2009 Champions League First Round  Zimbabwe Monomotapa United 3–2, 1–2 0.3
(1) CCP = CAF Co-efficiency points. Total amount of points for CAF Coefficient: 17.0

Club records

Premier Soccer League record

Club officials/Technical team

First team squad

As of 13 February 2016 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 South Africa GK Brandon Peterson
2 South Africa DF Abel Mabaso (on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns)
3 South Africa DF Rivaldo Coetzee
5 South Africa DF Mosa Lebusa
6 South Africa MF Travis Graham (captain)
7 South Africa MF Ashley Hartog
8 South Africa MF Ndiviwe Mdabuka
9 Zimbabwe FW Thomas Chideu
10 South Africa MF Toriq Losper
11 South Africa MF Bantu Mzwakali
13 South Africa MF Ruzaigh Gamildien
14 South Africa FW Tashreeq Morris
15 South Africa FW Prince Nxumalo
16 South Africa GK Andre Petim
17 South Africa MF Ziyaad Eksteen
No. Position Player
18 South Africa DF Abbubaker Mobara
19 South Africa MF Asive Langwe (on loan from Bidvest Wits)
20 South Africa FW Erwin Isaacs
22 South Africa DF Aidan Jenniker
23 South Africa MF Olwethu Nguye
24 South Africa MF Franklin Cale
25 Zimbabwe DF Milton Ncube
26 Ghana DF Lawrence Lartey
27 South Africa DF Yagan Sasman
28 South Africa MF Justin Jacobus
29 South Africa FW Nathan Paulse
30 South Africa GK Jody February
31 South Africa MF Riyaad Norodien
32 Finland GK Anssi Jaakkola

Foreigners

In the South African PSL, only five non-South African nationals can be registered. Foreign players who have acquired permanent residency can be registered as locals.

Shirt sponsor & kit manufacturer

References

  1. ↑ Ajax kom nou tuis by Kaapstad-stadion Nuus24, geraadpleegd 28 augustus 2011
  2. ↑ http://www.kickoff.com/news/35388/comitis-brothers-sell-shares-in-ajax-cape-town-after-feud-with-efstathiou-family
  3. ↑ Soccer in South Africa
  4. ↑ "Comitis-familie stapt uit Ajax CT". Ajax Showtime. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
  5. ↑ "Efstathiou: Ertugral Stays, Comitis goes". Kick Off Magazine. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
  6. ↑ "Ajax Cape Town Club History". ajaxct.com. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  7. ↑ "Chiefs to use Rand Stadium this season". KickOff Magazine. 30 June 2010. Archived from the original on 9 August 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  8. ↑ "Ajax CT to use Cape Town Stadium as Home Ground". Goal.com. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  9. ↑ "Norwegian Giants At Ikamva". Soccerladuma.co.za. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  10. ↑ "Blank Ajax Cape Town vaart tegen stroom in". Trouw. 2 October 1999. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  11. ↑ "Bodewes takes the helm at Ajax Cape Town". IOL News. 5 May 2000. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  12. ↑ "Ajax, Pirates ponder problems ahead of replay". IOL News. 12 December 2000. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  13. ↑ "Just be consistent, McDonald tells Ajax". IOL News. 5 May 2001. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  14. ↑ "Ajax system to become 'Igesund way'". IOL News. 13 August 2002. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  15. ↑ "Ajax Cape Town appoint Igesund replacement". Mail & Guardian. 13 June 2006. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  16. ↑ "South Africa: Rosslee Set to Continue Youth Policy at Ajax". All Africa. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "Ertuğral Confirmed As New Ajax Cape Town Coach". Goal.com. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "Jan Pruijn In Charge Of Ajax Cape Town For Now". Goal.com. 17 October 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  19. ↑ "Introducing the New Coach for Ajax Cape Town". Cape Town Magazine. 17 October 2009. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  20. ↑ "Maarten Stekelenburg coach Ajax Cape Town". AD.nl. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  21. ↑ "Ajax CT wins under interim coaches". Ajax.nl. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  22. ↑ "Pruijn wants to take over as head coach of Ajax Cape Town". Goal.com. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  23. ↑ "Ertuğral steps into the Ajax Cape Town hot seat as Versleijen resigns". Goal.com. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  24. ↑ "Ajax Cape Town coach Muhsin Ertuğral: The team is stable". Goal.com. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  25. ↑ "Taylor to take over from Ertuğral". Africanfootball.com. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  26. ↑ "Roger De Sá unveiled as Ajax Cape Town coach". Goal.com. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.

External links

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