Ajax Amsterdam’s parting shot that their Ajax Cape Town satellite “failed to produce enough talent” has left a bitter aftertaste at Ikamva.
When the clubs announced they would split on Monday after 21 years in partnership, the Dutch giants said in a statement that: “Ajax has expressed the ambition to reach the top of European football and in recent years the South African football market has not produced enough talent at the level that Ajax strives for.”
They added: “Moreover, Ajax does not see sufficient potential for the future.”
But Ajax Cape Town’s record goalscorer and current reserves coach Nathan Paulse has spoeled his bek uit at the Dutch for laying the blame at Ikamva.
He tells the Daily Voice: “It’s really sad that this happened. To be honest, there has been a gradual decline, but it’s not fair to apportion the blame on the South African side.
“They must take responsibility too. They have been inconsistent. Some of the Dutch coaches that came here were not successful.
“And their assistance to local coaches? Did they do enough to equip us with the standards they expect? It’s more a collective failure.”
Contrasting Amsterdam’s run to the Champions League semifinal in 2019 and Cape Town’s fall into Mzansi’s second division under the leadership of CEO Ari Efstathiou, the 38-year-old says: “Some of the coaches that came didn’t even play the Ajax way.
“Going back to when I started, there was a strong Dutch influence and we competed.
“But there has been no steady influence in the last 10 years.”
Never one to give up, though, Paulse is looking to the future with optimism with the club planning to rebrand as Cape Town Spurs after acquiring the Dutch’s 51 percent.
The ex-ace adds: “I hope this bodes well for the club. Adversity can create opportunities. We have to make the best of it.”
matthew.marcus@inl.co.za