It was a relieved Ajax Cape Town coach Jan Pruijn that faced the media after Friday night's 1-0 win over Maritzburg United at Athlone.
------------------------------------------------------------
Predict result and win big with Soccer6
------------------------------------------------------------
The victory followed the Urban Warriors' three nil capitulation to Kaizer Chiefs earlier in the week, the win on Friday night taking the Cape side up to a more respectable 11th position on the Premiership table.
Pruijn admits that ahead of the Maritzburg game, he had battled to get the players in the right frame of mind.
"It took me until after the Chiefs game until 10 minutes to eight tonight to make sure everyone was aware what this game is about, it was a matter of bringing the players to the fact that we are in the bottom of the league, playing a team that is unbeaten away," he said.
The only goal of the game came from Toriq Losper five minutes before the end of the match.
Pruijn was happy at the nature of the goal and pleased to see his men following instructions, which he hopes will bode well for the future.
"You never know with Maritzburg. I told my players to be patient, to be organised, to try and play the ball down the wings and that they would get a chance.
"I told Losper that he would get at least one chance, and we have worked at training on shots from that distance (from which we scored).
"I told Wanderson (who made the assist) to look up and make the easy pass, so overall things worked out, we are getting there step by step. At this moment it's very helpful to get back on track with two-away games to come"
Team of Choice coach Ernst Middendorp feels that his team's failure to take anything from their trip to the Mother City was a result of not being able to spend enough time with the ball in dangerous positions. United often played attractive football in the centre of the park, but rarely threatened in the final third.
"Our biggest problem in the last two games has been keeping the ball up front, for two, three seconds," said the former Chiefs boss.
"We have to work on it, we have a small squad and we have had to rely on a player like Cuthbert Malajila a lot. A player like (the injured) Orlando Smeekes would be useful at the moment.
"If you have such a big chance delivered near the end of game to make it 1-1 (Delron Buckley failed to find the net with a clear chance on goal from 16-yards out), you should take it.
"But congratulations to Ajax, they were the more active team and deserved the win, no doubt about it."
Post A Comment!
Be the first to post a comment on this story