PREVIEW: Urban Warriors out to extinguish firing Chilli Boys

08 Dec 2017

Ajax Cape Town will renew their Absa Premiership rivalry with Chippa United at Bidvest Stadium on Saturday evening. Kick-off is at 20h15 CAT.

The Urban Warriors have been forced to take our scheduled home fixture to a neutral venue due to the unavailability of suitable venues within the Mother City.

Stanley Menzo’s troops, though, will be familiar with their surroundings having held Bidvest Wits to a goalless stalemate at the same venue earlier this week.

The Chilli Boys have jumped up to second place on the log standings following a 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs, and Menzo is wary of the threat posed by the Eastern Cape outfit who are 10 games unbeaten in the league.

“If you want achieve something you have to be together as a team,” said Menzo.

“We went to the home of the champions and got a valuable point on a field that was not easy to play on. We kept our shape and remained organized and we have to do the same against Chippa this weekend.

“They [Chippa] are a very technically gifted team that like to play football. They made good signings in Kurt Lentjies, Mark Mayambela and Abel Mabaso who is doing very well. They are a team that is in a good mood at this moment and a team that is very dangerous on the transition.

“It will not be an easy game, but there are no easy games in the PSL,” he concluded.

In head-to-head stats, Ajax Cape Town and Chippa United have met in eight league matches since the 2012-13 season.

The Urban Warriors have claimed four wins compared to just one for the Chilli Boys, while three matches ended all square. The Cape side boasts an unbeaten home record in this rivalry, with three wins and a draw from four turns as hosts.

Last season we claimed a league ‘double’ over Chippa, winning 1-0 both in Cape Town and in Mdantsane.