Mark Mayambela wants to see Ajax beat former club Pirates into top eight

Winger Mark Mayambela has always been a player of great promise‚ but at times in his career has frustratingly failed to live up to the hype.

Eyebrows were raised when the former Orlando Pirates star was signed by Ajax Cape Town at the start of this season‚ but the doubters have been proven wrong after a stellar campaign in which he has at times single-handedly dragged the Urban Warriors through games as an attacking force.

And the 29-year-old is relishing his new position as a senior statesman in the team as he now targets a place in the top eight for Ajax ahead of Sunday’s Absa Premiership clash against his former side‚ Chippa United‚ in East London.

“I think being one of the senior players in the team‚ I have to lead by example‚ be it on the field or off the field. Of course it is not easy but it is something I enjoy‚” Mayambela said.

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“It has been a great adventure and responsibility‚ and I think it brings the best out of me. In the past‚ at my previous teams‚ I was regarded as a bit more of a youngster‚ but here it is different.

“It is great‚ we have players that are ambitious and want to do well so that also makes things easier for everyone.”

Mayambela admits that the players needed to take responsibility for the team’s disappointing season that had seen them flirt with relegation‚ before pulling clear of the drop zone in recent weeks.

“As players we had to look at ourselves. It worked well and we are doing better‚” he said‚ before adding that the players are now thinking about the top eight.

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Ajax trail Mayambela's other former team Orlando Pirates in eighth by two points‚ with all teams now having four games remaining in the season.

“We are not giving up on a top eight finish‚ but there is still a lot that can happen between now and the end of the season.”

The turnaround in fortunes for Mayambela has been welcome after SuperSport United coach Stuart Baxter banished him from the club last April‚ questioning his professionalism.

Aside from Chippa‚ he also had spells at Bloemfontein Celtic‚ Orlando Pirates‚ Mpumalanga Black Aces‚ Royal Eagles‚ and in Sweden with Djurgarden.

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport