Ajax Cape Town right back Rheece Evans says his side are out to prove a point after being drawn against ABC Motsepe League side KwaDukuza United in a Nedbank Cup Last 32.
The Urban Warriors are set to face the ABC Motsepe League side in the round of 32 next month, with the club setting their sights on a second final appearance within the space of three seasons.
The Urban Warriors will now travel to KwaDukuza for the encounter. The venue is yet to be confirmed, with the Premier Soccer League set to announce exact dates and times in due course.
New signing Rheece Evans, who was born in Durban, offered some insight into what can be expected from the team from the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
The 26-year-old has forewarned his side of the unknown threat that KwaDukuza United represents, but he remains confident that his side can overcome the lower league side.
‘They will want to prove a point, these ABC Motsepe League teams love to run, love to keep the ball,’ Evans told the Ajax Cape Town website.
‘My experience playing against a lower league team as a PSL player; they keep the ball, especially in the first half – sometimes they are a bit cautious to go forward.
‘We don’t know much about KwaDukuza United at this stage, we don’t know their style of play, but just generalising about ABC Motsepe League teams – they like to knock the ball around, keep the ball, run and put a lot of pressure – especially in the early stages of the match.’
Evans says that his side enjoys playing in the Durban weather conditions and he believes the Urban Warriors can use this to their advantage.
‘It all depends on what type of field we will be playing on, we are used to good quality fields – we could well play on a small, bumpy pitch depending on where the game takes place. We will just have to adjust accordingly,’ he added.
‘Durban is always humid, but myself being from that area – I enjoy the humidity, I enjoy the heat and playing in the heat. Now playing in Cape Town I will have to adjust to the rainy, windy conditions, so for me I like to play in those [Durban] weather conditions. I can’t talk on behalf of my teammates, maybe they will have a different opinion, but I will fit right in.’
The former Maritzburg United left back has called on his side to remain composed and has stressed the importance of not conceding any goals during their round of 32 encounter.
‘What is key is to just keep your composure, make sure that you don’t concede, make sure you don’t go past 90 minutes. We have to finish and kill the game off quickly, we are the PSL team and we have to show them that we are dominant, that we are in the top flight for a reason,’ Evans said.
‘We can’t go there taking it half-hearted, underestimating them. We have to go there guns blazing and take the game to them.’
Ajax Cape Town will travel to Bidvest Wits Stadium next when they go head-to-head with Bidvest Wits in the Absa Premiership on Tuesday.
Kick-off has been scheduled for 19:30.
Image: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
