Swallows face Ajax in Telkom KO challenge

Added: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 (20:29)

Moroka Swallows are optimistic that their unbeaten run in 2010 will continue when they travel to Newlands on Sunday to face Ajax Cape Town in the first round of the Telkom Knockout competition. Kick-off is at 3pm.

With no PSL pressure on the coaching staff or players, the Birds will be relaxed and focused. They are determined to set themselves up with a good cup run by beating an unpredictable Ajax Cape Town in their own backyard.

The Birds got their act together sharply under Coach Rainer Zobel after a slow start at the beginning of the compact Absa Premiership season.

They secured their place in next season's MTN8 competition by beating Jomo Cosmos 1-0 in their tightly fought final Premiership fixture at Dobsonville last Sunday, and will travel to Cape Town with the pressure off their backs. Assistant coach Zeca Marques, said: "We were under pressure to beat Cosmos to finish eighth. We managed that and it was a big relief.

The next day at training you could see the players were more relaxed and looking forward to the Knockout." Marques confirmed that the Knockout provided a tough draw and another major hurdle. "Playing Ajax away is not the draw we would have liked, but it is another challenge, and we will face it strongly.

"Because we do not have to worry about League games, we can focus on the Cup and we are keen to have a good run in the remaining two cup competitions. We are up for this challenge."

The Dube Birds are looking to their revitalised former Bafana Bafana striker Siyabonga Nomvethe, who scored the only goal of the last match, to come to the party and hit the back of the net.

"Nomvethe has been a revelation. He has peaked at just the right time, has got stronger and is now showing the form that made him such a star with Bafana.

"His experience and ability t o get behind defenses is invaluable and hopefully he will continue his current trend and test Ajax on Sunday."

The Birds welcome back teenage striker Auguston Leonard from injury. He will be vying with the likes of Birds greats, Lungisani Ndlela and another veteran David Radebe, for a place alongside Nomvethe in the Birds attack.

Birds' other key striker, Shaun Haschick, is sadly still injured and will not be fit to travel to Cape Town for this latest challenge.