Fresh off the back of their Telkom Knockout Cup victory over Bloemfontein Celtic on Sunday, Bidvest Wits dive straight back into the deep-end of their league duties. The defending champions will play host to Ajax Cape Town on Wednesday evening in what is building up to be a serious showdown in the basement of the ABSA Premiership.
Bidvest Wits vs Ajax Cape Town
Wednesday, December 6th
Bidvest Stadium, Johannesburg
Kick-off at 19:30 (7:30pm) local time
Despite all their heroics in the cup competitions thus far this season, the defence of the league crown has not gone according to the script. Their title triumph last season will soon be forgotten if they cannot manage to avoid the dreaded drop down to the National First Division. The Clever Boys find themselves rooted to the foot of the table on nine points, after managing a meagre two wins from 11 league matches played, only behind Platinum Stars and this week’s opponents Ajax on goal difference. Those victories came at the expense of high-flying Orlando Pirates and surprise table-toppers Baroka FC so despite five defeats in their last nine, their remains an element of optimism that Wits can still turn things around and start stringing some wins together.
Bidvest Wits recent results: (all competitions)
02/12/2017 – Wits 1-0 Celtic (TKO)
25/11/2017 – Maritzburg 0-0 Wits (PSL)
21/11/2017 – Wits 0-2 Sundowns (PSL)
18/11/2017 – Wits 1-0 Kaizer Chiefs (TKO)
04/11/2017 – Wits 1-0 Baroka (TKO)
01/11/2017 – Wits 0-2 Chippa (PSL)
28/10/2017 – Wits 4-2 Free State Stars (TKO)
Three-time runners-up Ajax Cape Town, most recently in 2010-11, have found themselves embroiled in relegation battles in recent seasons and are once again in 2017/18 struggling in the lower reaches of the league. They have a near identical record compared with Wednesday night’s opponents, Bidvest Wits, with two wins and six defeats from their 11 league games. Defeat to Supersport United last week ensured that the Urban Warriors went without a win in November, their solitary point coming in a 2-2 draw at home to Amazulu. With fixtures against top-half opposition in the form of Chippa United and Kaizer Chiefs to follow in the coming weeks, the Cape side will be keen to take the all important three points to put some daylight between themselves and Wits who have already suffered four defeats in six home games in the league.
Ajax Cape Town recent results: (all competitions)
29/11/2017 – Supersport 1-0 Ajax CT (PSL)
25/11/2017 – Ajax CT 2-2 Amazulu (PSL)
01/11/2017 – Platinum Stars 1-0 Ajax CT (PSL)
28/10/2017 – Polokwane City 0-0 Ajax CT (TKO)*
21/10/2017 – Ajax CT 2-1 Bloem Celtic (PSL)
18/10/2017 – Free State Stars 2-0 Ajax CT (PSL)
30/09/2017 – Ajax CT 0-2 Cape Town City (PSL)
This fixture has proven to be a real goal-fest down the years, with 52 goals scored between them in the last 20 league fixtures at an average of 2.6 goals per game. Wits did the double over Ajax last season on their march to the title including a 5-0 hammering of the visitors in the corresponding fixture last season, Hellings ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango’s brace putting the finishing touches on a stellar team performance.
Bidvest Wits vs Ajax Cape Town last eight: (all competitions)
07/02/2017 – Wits 5-0 Ajax CT (PSL)
26/10/2016 – Ajax CT 1-2 Wits (PSL)
21/05/2016 – Ajax CT 1-0 Wits (PSL)
30/08/2015 – Wits 0-1 Ajax CT (MTN8)
15/08/2015 – Ajax CT 1-1 Wits (MTN8)
08/08/2015 – Wits 2-1 Ajax CT (PSL)
10/04/2015 – Ajax CT 2-1 Wits (CUP)
10/12/2014 – Wits 4-2 Ajax CT (PSL)