Chronicle Editor
Welldone Ndlovu, Online Reporter
ZIFA Southern Region Division One outfit Ajax Hotspurs head coach Reginald Buhali has made a bold statement that he wants to finish the season among the top eight. After a slow start last season, Buhali made some changes that resulted in a remarkable turnaround. In the second half of the season, the team was competing with the top teams in the log and even managed to draw with the top three teams Arenel, ZPC Hwange and Talen Vision.
Ajax’s impressive run of form in the second half of the season included some very notable results. Their draw against champions Arenel who got the top flight ticket to the Premiership was impressive, given that they were the team to beat last season.ZPC Hwange and Talent Vision are also very strong teams, so drawing with them was testament to the team’s ability to compete with the best. Buhali will be hoping that these results can be built on for the new season.
The gaffer says he wants to keep all of his players from last season and improve their performance for the upcoming season. “We are trying to retain most of our players because they now know how we want to play and we continue with our project”, he said. The gaffer is aiming for a top eight finish, which would be a significant improvement from last season’s results when they finished in position 13 just five above the drop zone.
Ajax’s squad is one of the youngest in the league, with an average age of just 23.This is a deliberate strategy by Buhali , who believes that young players are hungry and eager to prove themselves.Buhali’s career has taken him to some interesting places.He has coached both in Zimbabwe and Botswana.
He was with Bulawayo City when they won promotion to the Castle Lager Premiership and also former Botswana Premiership team Phikwe United.As the new season approaches, Ajax Hotspurs has already begun their pre-season preparations. The team is training at Mpopoma, Bango grounds.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter