Ajax Cape Town F.C.

Ajax Cape Town was formed in 1999 via the amalgamation of two Cape Town-based teams, Seven Stars and Cape Town Spurs, as AFC Ajax expanded their worldwide talent-feeder network to South Africa. Ajax Cape Town was originally founded by John Comitis and Rob Moore in 1999. John Comitis, the honouree life chairman of Ajax Cape Town, later sold his shares in the club after 14 years at the helm and is now the chairmen of his new football team, Cape Town City Football Club.

Ajax, nicknamed Urban Warriors, played their first official game against Kaizer Chiefs in the Iwisa Charity Spectacular on 17 July 1999. Ajax caused an upset when they beat Chiefs 1–0 with Sam Pam, the Ajax Cape Town captain, scoring the winning goal.

Former South Africa national team coach Gordon Igesund, the country's most successful club coach,[2] who won league titles with Manning Rangers, Orlando Pirates, Santos and Sundowns, coached the club from 2002 until 2006.

Since coming into existence, Ajax has never won the league title with their highest finish being runners-up in 2003–04, 2007–08 and 2010–11. Ajax managed to win the Rothmans Cup in 2000, the Nedbank Cup in 2007, the Telkom Knockout in 2008 and most recently the MTN8 in 2015.

In January 2007 Ajax CT managed to beat AFC Ajax 3–1 in a friendly game held in Cape Town. The next friendly, played in Amsterdam, ended in a 3–2 win for AFC Ajax in July 2009.

Over the years several Ajax CT players have made the step to the mother club, among them Steven Pienaar in 2002, Daylon Claasen in 2009, Eyong Enoh in 2008 and Thulani Serero in 2011.

In July 2013, it was announced that the Comitis brothers, longtime partners and shareholders with the Efstathiou brothers, had sold their shares to the Efstathiou family.[3] Ari Efstathiou was announced as the new chairman, and Muhsin Ertuğral was reinstated as manager of the club, following an interim managerial period after originally being hired as the club's new technical director.[4]

In September 2015, Ajax won the 2015 MTN8 tournament edging Kaizer Chiefs 1–0 in the final.

Since the inception of the club, Ajax Cape Town have imported the AFC Ajax philosophy and effective youth development schemes in the Western Cape. The majority of the senior squad players have come up from the club's own youth ranks, such as the likes of Nazeer Allie, Granwald Scott and Thulani Hlatshwayo, while others such as Steven Pienaar and Thulani Serero have moved on to some of the top clubs in Europe.

With the introduction of the Ajax Cape Town Community Scheme in conjunction with the South African Police Services, Ajax CT also provides football opportunities to young people within the greater Cape Town area regardless of race, gender, social status or disability, facilitated through structured programs in a safe and fun learning environment.

Since then the Ajax Cape Town Community Scheme has been implemented in more than 120 schools across the Western Cape as far as the Cape Winelands, reaching more than 8,000 children.[5]

In the beginning Ajax CT played their home games at Athlone Stadium and Newlands Stadium. The latter is a 51,900 capacity venue, which was first built in 1888, and was also host to the 1995 Rugby World Cup opening match. Essentially being a rugby stadium, it was a home they shared with clubs Santos and Vasco da Gama, as well as rugby teams Stormers and Western Province. Athlone Stadium was home to the Santos and has a capacity of 30,000. The stadium located in Athlone, Cape Town was also host to some of Ajax CT early home matches as well.

Moving to the Green Point Stadium, an 18,000 seat multi-purpose stadium in the Green Point area of Cape Town. The stadium was eventually demolished in 2007 to make way for the new Cape Town Stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Construction of the new stadium was completed in 2009, and the Urban Warriors have played their home games at the Cape Town Stadium since the beginning of the 2010–11 Premier Soccer League season to an improved capacity of 55,000. On 3 August 2011 a contract extension of three years was negotiated with the stadium, which will see Ajax CT playing their home games there until 2014.[6][7]

The first match played at the new stadium was a Cape Town derby between Ajax CT and Santos on 23 January 2010 as part of the official inauguration of the stadium.

Ajax Cape Town trains at their home base located in Parow. (33°53′45.5″S 18°34′41.5″E). It serves as the training grounds for the senior squad, as well as for the Ajax Cape Town Youth Development Academy. It has hosted a number of foreign clubs among them German Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart during their midseason camp in 2014 as well as Viking FK from Norway.[8]

• Shirt sponsor: Huawei
• Kit manufacturer: Adidas

• Most starts: Brett Evans 311
• Most goals: Nathan Paulse 56
• Most capped player: Edelbert Dinha
• Most starts in a season: Edelbert Dinha 41 (2000–01)
• Most goals in a season: Mabhuti Khenyeza 23 (2008–09)
• Record Victory: 5–1 vs Moroka Swallows (19/2/06, PSL); vs Mount Cameroon (26/4/08, CAF Confederation Cup)
• Record defeat: 0–6 v Orlando Pirates (22/9/04, PSL); vs Golden Arrows (24/10/09, MTN 8)

As of 27 August 2019

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Nick Hengelman 3 DF Cohen Stander 4 DF Isaac Nhlapo 5 DF Thendo Mukumela 6 MF Morne Nel 7 FW Thabo Mosadi 8 MF Grant Margeman 9 FW Eleazar Rodgers 10 MF Masilake Phohlongo 11 FW Abednego Mosiatlhaga 15 MF Siphesihle Mkhize 16 GK Darren Johnson 17 MF Asenele Velebayi 18 DF Keenan Abrahams

No. Position Player 19 FW Sedwyn George 20 FW Katlego Otladisa 22 DF Kiyaam Bull 23 DF Junior Sibande 25 DF Bongolwethu Siyasi 26 MF Riyaaz Koopstadt 27 DF Kegan Johannes 28 MF Sonwabile Mfecane 29 MF Rodrick Kabwe 30 GK Jody February 32 GK Renaldo Leaner MF Luthando Mateza MF Istvan Bakx MF Zaakir Allie

• Honorary Life Chairman: N/A
• Chief Executive Officer: Ari Efstathiou
• Chief Commercial Officer: Alexi Efstathiou
• General Manager of Football: Shooz Moketo
• Head coach: Andries Ulderink
• Assistant coach: Calvin Marlin
• Goalkeeper coach: Calvin Marlin
• Multichoice Diski Challenge team coach: N/A
• ABC Motsepe team coach: Dylan Dean
• Head of scouting: N/A

• Leo van Veen (1999–00)[10]
• Henk Bodewes (2000)[11]
• Steve Haupt (interim) (2000–01)[12]
• Rob McDonald (2001–02)[13]
• Gordon Igesund (2002–06)[14]
• Muhsin Ertuğral (2006–07)[15]
• Craig Rosslee (2007–09)[16]
• Muhsin Ertuğral and Jan Pruijn (interim) (2009)[17][18]
• Foppe De Haan (2009–11)[19]
• Maarten Stekelenburg (2011–12)[20]
• Wilfred Mugeyi and Jan Pruijn (interim) (2012)[21][22]
• Jan Versleijen and Muhsin Ertuğral (int.) (2013)[23]
• Muhsin Ertuğral (2013–14)[24]
• Ian Taylor (interim) (2014)[25]
• Roger De Sá (2014–2016)[26]
• Stanley Menzo (2016–2017)
• Muhsin Ertuğral (2017-2018)
• Andries Ulderink (2018–)[27]

• Official website
• Premier Soccer League
• PSL Club Info
• South African Football Association
• Confederation of African Football