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Cape Town Spurs F.C.

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Cape Town Spurs
Full nameCape Town Spurs Football Club
Nickname(s)Urban Warriors
Founded11 January 1970; 54 years ago (1970-01-11)
GroundAthlone Stadium (most games), Parow Park[1]
Capacity34,000, 2,000
ChairmanAri Efstathiou
ManagerErnst Middendorp
LeagueNational First Division
2023–24Premiership, 16th of 16 (relegated)
Websitecapetownspurs.co.za

Cape Town Spurs F.C. (formerly known as Ajax Cape Town) is a South African professional football club based in Parow in the city of Cape Town that plays in the National First Division. Dutch Eredivisie club AFC Ajax was their parent club and majority shareholder after a merger of both Cape Town Spurs and Seven Stars in January 1999 until selling its shares in September 2020.[2]

History

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Cape Town Spurs were formed on 11 January 1970, competing in the National Professional Soccer League from 1971 until 1984, and the National Soccer League from 1985 to 1995, winning the championship in the final season, before the establishment of the South African Premiership in 1996. The club also won league and the Cup in 1995, then known as the Bob Save Super Bowl.

In 1999 Ajax Cape Town was formed via the amalgamation of two Cape Town-based teams, Seven Stars and Cape Town Spurs, as AFC Ajax expanded their worldwide talent-feeder network to South Africa, with the club adopting the club crest of the Amsterdam-based club.[3] Ajax Cape Town was originally founded by John Comitis and Rob Moore in 1999. John Comitis, the honouree life chairman of Ajax Cape Town, later sold his shares in the club after 14 years at the helm and is now the chairmen of his new football team, Cape Town City Football Club.

Ajax, nicknamed Urban Warriors, played their first official game against Kaizer Chiefs in the Iwisa Charity Spectacular on 17 July 1999. Ajax caused an upset when they beat Chiefs 1–0 with Sam Pam, the Ajax Cape Town captain, scoring the winning goal.

Former South Africa national team coach Gordon Igesund, the country's most successful club coach,[4] who won league titles with Manning Rangers, Orlando Pirates, Santos and Sundowns, coached the club from 2002 until 2006.

Since coming into existence, Ajax has never won the league title with their highest finish being runners-up in 2003–04, 2007–08 and 2010–11. Ajax managed to win the Rothmans Cup in 2000, the Nedbank Cup in 2007, the Telkom Knockout in 2008 and most recently the MTN8 in 2015.

In January 2007 Ajax CT managed to beat AFC Ajax 3–1 in a friendly game held in Cape Town. The next friendly, played in Amsterdam, ended in a 3–2 win for AFC Ajax in July 2009.

Over the years several Ajax CT players have made the step to the mother club, among them Steven Pienaar in 2002, Daylon Claasen in 2009, Eyong Enoh in 2008 and Thulani Serero in 2011.

In July 2013, it was announced that the Comitis brothers, longtime partners and shareholders with the Efstathiou brothers, had sold their Cape Town Stars shares, (19.6% of Ajax Cape Town), to the Efstathiou family.[5] Ari Efstathiou was announced as the new chairman, and Muhsin Ertuğral was reinstated as manager of the club, following an interim managerial period after originally being hired as the club's new technical director.[6]

In September 2015, Ajax won the 2015 MTN8 tournament edging Kaizer Chiefs 1–0 in the final.

Ajax CT were relegated to the National First Division after finishing bottom in the 2017–18 season due to points been deducted. Ajax CT were deducted points for apparently playing Thendai Ndoro, who, according to the Premier Soccer League was an illegible player. Ajax CT had previously been given the green light by the league and had officially registered the player with them as they were in possession of his player card. The team, therefore, would have not been relegated, had the points unfairly not been deducted, and had the league not overturned their original decision that Ndoro was eligible to play.

Ajax CT finished in 4th place, outside of the playoff positions, in the 2018–19 National First Division, and again failed to achieve promotion the following season after losing in the playoffs to Black Leopards. Shortly thereafter, Ajax Amsterdam sold their 51% share in Ajax Cape Town.[2]

In 2020, Ajax CT ended their association with Dutch club AFC Ajax, with Cape Town Stars acquiring full control of the club, and they subsequently renamed it Cape Town Spurs.[7][8][9]

Youth programme

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The likes of Nazeer Allie, Granwald Scott and Thulani Hlatshwayo came up through the youth ranks, while others such as Steven Pienaar and Thulani Serero have moved on to some of the top clubs in Europe.[10]

As of 2011, the then Ajax Cape Town Community Scheme had been implemented in more than 120 schools across the Western Cape as far as the Cape Winelands, reaching more than 8,000 children.[11]

Stadium

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Cape Town Spurs play most of their games at the Athlone Stadium.

From 1999, Ajax CT played their home games at Athlone Stadium and Newlands Stadium. The latter is a 51,900 capacity venue, which was first built in 1888, and was also host to the 1995 Rugby World Cup opening match. Essentially being a rugby stadium, it was a home they shared with clubs Santos and Vasco da Gama, as well as rugby teams Stormers and Western Province. Athlone Stadium was home to the Santos and has a capacity of 30,000. The stadium located in Athlone, Cape Town was also host to some of Ajax CT early home matches as well.

Moving to the Green Point Stadium, an 18,000 seat multi-purpose stadium in the Green Point area of Cape Town. The stadium was eventually demolished in 2007 to make way for the new Cape Town Stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Construction of the new stadium was completed in 2009, and the Urban Warriors played their home games at the Cape Town Stadium from the beginning of the 2010–11 Premier Soccer League season to an improved capacity of 55,000. On 3 August 2011 a contract extension of three years was negotiated with the stadium, which saw Ajax CT play their home games there until 2014.[12][13]

The first match played at the new stadium was a Cape Town derby between Ajax CT and Santos on 23 January 2010 as part of the official inauguration of the stadium.

Spurs train at their home base located in Parow. (33°53′45.5″S 18°34′41.5″E / 33.895972°S 18.578194°E / -33.895972; 18.578194). It serves as the training grounds for the senior squad, as well as for the Ajax Cape Town Youth Development Academy. It has hosted a number of foreign clubs among them German Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart during their midseason camp in 2014 as well as Viking FK from Norway.[14]

Honours

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National titles

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Cup competitions

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Pre-season

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1. Trophies won as Ajax Cape Town F.C. from 11 January 1999 to 28 September 2020.

Performance in CAF competitions

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Continental appearances

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2005 – Group stage (Top 8)
2009 – First Round
2008 – First Round of 16

Continental results

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Season Competition Round Country Club Score CCP (1)
2005 Champions League Preliminary Round  Swaziland Mhlambanyatsi Rovers 1–0, 1–1 2.0
First Round  Burkina Faso ASFA Yennenga 1–0, 0–1
Second Round  Guinea Fello Star 2–0, 0–2
Final Group Round  Nigeria Enyimba 1–1, 2–0
 Morocco Raja Casablanca 1–1, 0–3
 Egypt Al Ahly 2–0, 0–0
2008 Confederation Cup First Round  Seychelles Anse Réunion 1–0, 4–1 1.0
First Round of 16  Cameroon Mount Cameroon 5–1, 0–5
2009 Champions League First Round  Zimbabwe Monomotapa United 3–2, 1–2 0.3
(1) CCP = CAF Co-efficiency points. Total number of points for CAF Coefficient: 17.0

Club records

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League record

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South African Premiership

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National First Division

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South African Premiership

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Players

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As of 1 August 2024[15]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK South Africa RSA Zama Dlamini
2 DF South Africa RSA Nazeer Allie
3 DF South Africa RSA Cohen Stander
5 MF South Africa RSA Morne Nel
6 MF South Africa RSA Jarrod Moroole
10 MF South Africa RSA Keagan Buchanan
11 MF South Africa RSA Colin Ryan
13 FW South Africa RSA Leo Thethani
14 MF South Africa RSA Michael Morton
16 GK South Africa RSA Lincoln Vyver
17 FW South Africa RSA Asanele Velebayi
18 DF South Africa RSA Logan Brown
19 FW South Africa RSA Riyaaz Nell
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 FW South Africa RSA Therlo Moosa
28 DF South Africa RSA Obakhe Tshaya
29 FW South Africa RSA Ashley Cupido
30 DF South Africa RSA Mogamad De Goede
31 DF South Africa RSA Khaya Mfecane
32 GK South Africa RSA Aden Dreyer
33 FW South Africa RSA Chumani Butsaka
34 MF South Africa RSA Liam Bern
37 FW South Africa RSA Luke Baartman
42 DF South Africa RSA Tshepo Gumede
43 GK South Africa RSA Neil Boshoff
44 DF South Africa RSA Denwin Farmer
50 MF South Africa RSA Katlego Maphathe

On loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player

Retired numbers

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Notable former players

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Main article: List of Ajax Cape Town players
For a list of all Ajax Cape Town players with a Wikipedia article, see Category:Ajax Cape Town F.C. players.

Managers

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References

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  1. ^ "South Africa - Cape Town Spurs FC - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news - Soccerway". Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Ajax Amsterdam explains decision to end Ajax Cape Town partnership". Kick Off. 28 September 2020. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  3. ^ Bindl, Florian (21 November 2019). "Football talents made by Ajax". Cape Chameleon. Archived from the original on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  4. ^ Soccer in South Africa Archived 17 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Comitis-familie stapt uit Ajax CT". Ajax Showtime. Archived from the original on 5 July 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  6. ^ "Efstathiou: Ertugral Stays, Comitis goes". Kick Off Magazine. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  7. ^ "What went wrong for Ajax in Cape Town?". Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020 – via bbc.co.uk.
  8. ^ "Ajax Cape Town set to be rebranded Cape Town Spurs following Dutch withdrawal". iol.co.za. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  9. ^ October 2020, FourFourTwo Staff 08. "Cape Town Spurs launch new logo". fourfourtwo.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "What went wrong for Dutch club Ajax in Cape Town?". BBC Sport. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Ajax Cape Town Club History". ajaxct.com. 5 August 2011. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  12. ^ "Chiefs to use Rand Stadium this season". KickOff Magazine. 30 June 2010. Archived from the original on 9 August 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  13. ^ "Ajax CT to use Cape Town Stadium as Home Ground". Goal.com. 3 August 2011. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  14. ^ "Norwegian Giants at Ikamva". Soccerladuma.co.za. 27 January 2014. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  15. ^ "Squad". ajaxct.co.za. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  16. ^ "Ajax Cape Town » » Jersey No. 21 Belongs to Lolo". Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Blank Ajax Cape Town vaart tegen stroom in". Trouw. 2 October 1999. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  18. ^ "Bodewes takes the helm at Ajax Cape Town". IOL News. 5 May 2000. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  19. ^ "Ajax, Pirates ponder problems ahead of replay". IOL News. 12 December 2000. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
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  26. ^ "Introducing the New Coach for Ajax Cape Town". Cape Town Magazine. 17 October 2009. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  27. ^ "Maarten Stekelenburg coach Ajax Cape Town". Algemeen Dagblad. 21 June 2011. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  28. ^ "Ajax CT wins under interim coaches". Ajax.nl. 18 October 2012. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  29. ^ "Pruijn wants to take over as head coach of Ajax Cape Town". Goal.com. 23 October 2012. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  30. ^ "Ertuğral steps into the Ajax Cape Town hot seat as Versleijen resigns". Goal.com. 25 April 2013. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  31. ^ "Ajax Cape Town coach Muhsin Ertuğral: The team is stable". Goal.com. 3 July 2013. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  32. ^ "Taylor to take over from Ertuğral". Africanfootball.com. 23 January 2014. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  33. ^ "Roger De Sá unveiled as Ajax Cape Town coach". Goal.com. 20 February 2014. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  34. ^ "Ajax Cape Town Appoints Dutch Coach". ajaxct.co.za. 29 November 2018. Archived from the original on 7 March 2019.
  35. ^ Vardien, Tashreeq. "Bartlett's replacement: Spurs narrow down potential candidates with 'PSL experience'". Sport. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  36. ^ Sibembe, Yanga (24 November 2023). "Cape Town City can finally usurp log leaders Sundowns". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
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