Duncan Lechesa: Ajax Cape Town have what it takes to bounce back to the PSL

Former Mthatha Bucks coach Duncan Lechesa believes Ajax Cape Town  have what it takes to bounce back from the National First Division (NFD).

The Urban Warriors are set to campaign in the NFD next season after deciding to drop their application for an interdict to halt the start of the new Premier Soccer League (PSL) season.

Ajax were docked points after fielding striker Tendai Ndoro against SuperSport United, Polokwane City and Platinum Stars last season.

The judgment was passed by the South African Football Association’s (Safa) arbitrator William Mokhari, who found the striker ineligible to play in the PSL.

Ndoro played for Orlando Pirates at the beginning of the past term and went on to play for Al Faisaly in Saudi Arabia before returning to the PSL where he joined the Ikamva-based side. 

Lechesa, an experienced campaigner in the NFD with the likes of Black Leopards, believes coach Muhsin Ertugral will guide the side back to the top tier.

He also urged the club’s supporters to keep rallying behind the club in the lower division, but also believes that their club’s solid development will help them to adjust.

“Look I think they’ve been preparing for life in the NFD and they’ve got a good development foundation to help them," Lechesa told Goal on Saturday.

“I am sure they’ll adjust in the NFD and they also have good youth coaches who have worked with teams in the ABC Motsepe League where they can come in with some help," said the Free State Stars MDC coach.

“I also believe they will keep the core of their team. I think they will have 60% of the team in the NFD – that will make things easy for them," he said.

“It is very difficult to say they will just get wins or collect points and make it back to the PSL because it is not easy down there," he added.

“But with the quality of their technical team and players, they are able to come back and I am sure they have already made plans for life there," added the former midfielder.

“In my view, life is tough in the NFD because clubs are fighting for promotion, they are competing and everybody goes there to fight for the points, and I am happy they have accepted their fate so that means they will fight to bounce back," continued.

“I think they have a good coach, Muhsin believes in a young team that has energy and they will also bank on their supporters to keep pushing them," said the 42-year-old.

“I think they took the right decision to withdraw their court case because that was not going to be good for the league, the sponsors and so on," said the former Bucks coach.

“I don’t think we need that as a league and one of the best in the world, and this is good for the game, but they will have to find adjust as quickly as possible,” he concluded.