Cape braced for the Mother (City) of all derbies

23 September 2016 - 16:21 By Mark Gleeson

Bragging rights in the Mother City will be on offer as new neighbours Ajax Cape Town and Cape Town City go head-to-head in their first ever meeting on Friday night. Ajax are still looking for their first win of the season although have offered enough evidence in their opening matches to suggest they could bid for a top eight place in the Absa Premiership this season.They were unfortunate to lose at home to Orlando Pirates last week and on Tuesday looked better than Polokwane City before having Roscoe Pietersen sent off and allowing their visitors a penalty to get back into the game for a 1-1 draw.Pietersen’s dismissal means an automatic two-match suspension and a reshuffle at the back with Eric Chipeta likely to come in at centreback for his first start for the club since joining from Chippa United.Bantu Mzwakali‚ who delivered a man-of-the-match performance on Tuesday‚ will be key to Ajax’s hopes with his skill and pace while Nathan Paulse will be looking to add to the three goals he was already netted in the league campaign.But there is concern that a hamstring strain could keep right winger Thabo Mosadi out. He has proved a real boost for Ajax since arriving from relegated University of Pretoria.Cape Town City surprised traveling to Johannesburg on Tuesday and coming close to beating Pirates. Only the goalkeeping of Brighton Mhlongo denied them but the 0-0 draw was still a major morale booster for the new boys.City are unbeaten so far at the Cape Town Stadium and will want to keep that record intact.One player eagerly awaiting the game will be City wing Aubrey Ngoma‚ who on the same pitch almost four years to the day scored four goals for AmaTuks in a 5-1 thrashing of Ajax...

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