Ajax take it easy in first pre-season friendly: 1-5
1 (0) - 5 (2)
Friendly
Sportpark Drieburg, Amsterdam
Saturday, 08 July, 2006
In almost every interview he did in recent weeks, Ajax
head-coach Henk ten Cate made crystal clear what his
ambitions are: "With this squad we must go for the title,
simple as that." The quest for the club's first 'shield' since
2004 started at Sportpark Drieburg in Amsterdam East today,
where Ajax played their first competitive game of the new
campaign against amateur outfit JOS Watergraafsmeer. It was hot
in the city, so Ajax took it easy, comfortably
cruising to a win of 1-5 over the amateurs, who will play
in the First Class of Dutch amateur football this season.
The game itself was everything but spectacular,
but the 3,500 spectators had an enjoyable day out
nonetheless. Hot sunny weather, ice-cold beverages, good
snacks and several new players to check out
and discuss - what more can an Ajax fan ask
for on a beautiful Saturday in July?
Roger played his first match in
the Ajax red and white. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
"This game was a perfect opportunity to see some young
players and some of the newcomers in action," Henk ten Cate
said. "In the upcoming games we will see how they manifest
themselves, especially the five or six young lads in the squad.
That's the phase we are in right now: the phase of getting
to know each other."
Right fullback George Ogararu and Spanish midfielders Gabri
and Roger played from the start at Sportpark Drieburg (and
worked remarkably hard). The other four newcomers
(Jaap Stam, Kenneth Perez, Michael
Krohn-Dehli and goalkeeper Dennis
Gentenaar) were rested due to minor pains
and injuries. Thomas Vermaelen didn't see action either,
for the same reason. Maarten Stekelenburg, Ryan Babel, Wesley
Sneijder, John Heitinga, Hedwiges Maduro, Markus Rosenberg and
Zdenek Grygera, meanwhile, are enjoying a few extra weeks
off. They represented their countries at the World
Cup in Germany and will join their team-mates in week
3 of the preparation campaign, after the traditional training
camp in De Lutte.
Remarkable names in the starting line-up were those of
Kenneth Vermeer (who started in goal, in default of
Stekelenburg and Gentenaar) and youngster Jan Vertonghen, who
played at an unlikely position (central defender), but did
well. The captain's armband was around the arm of... Klaas-Jan
Huntelaar. Earlier this week Ten Cate said that he hasn't
picked a captain yet. In reaction to that, Huntelaar said in an
interview that he is up for it: "It doesn't happen that
frequently that a centre forward wears the captain's armband,
but it's possible. If Ten Cate asks me, I'll do
it."
Ten Cate said after the game that he still hasn't made up
his mind and that Huntelaar is not necessarily his
definitive choice. "But it does say something that Klaas is
ready to take the responsibility."
Huntelaar wore the captain's
armband. [Photo: Ajax.nl]
Nine minutes into the game the first Ajax goal of the
2006-2007 season was on the score-board. It was diagonally
rocketed into the net by Nicolae Mitea, who missed almost
the entire 2005-2006 season due to injury. This season might
be his comeback year. The Romanian left winger was
the only Ajacied to score twice against JOS: the first as well
as the last goal of the afternoon.
The half-time score was 0-2, thanks to a goal by Huntelaar.
Five players were substituted for the second half. The most
noteworthy newcomer was Tom De Mul, who was loaned out to
Vitesse last season and made good progress in Arnhem. His moves
and crosses were much better than those of Mauro
Rosales in the first half. All three Ajax goals in the second
half were scored on fine De Mul crosses from the right flank.
Rydell Poepon, Angelos Charisteas and Nicolae Mitea were the
scorers. In between, Orville Blankendaal scored for
the hosts, heading a corner kick past goalkeeper Marco van
Duin, who replaced Kenneth Vermeer at half-time.
After the game Henk ten Cate was the first to admit that
this result "doesn't mean a thing", yet he was a satisfied man.
"We trained eight times this week, sometimes in tropical
conditions. I was pleased with the fact that the team worked so
hard after such a tough week. And I saw some good goals today,
too."
The Ajax boss also had a compliment for JOS Watergraafsmeer:
"They were fantastic hosts."
JOS is a club with a great history. The late Rinus
Michels started his coaching career at JOS back in the day, so
that - in a way - the club from Amsterdam East was at the
cradle of 'total football'. At JOS, Rinus Michels started to
develop the football philosophy that would make Ajax
a phenomenon.
The first match has been played; Ajax's 2006-2007 campaign
has begun. On Monday the team will drive to the eastern
province of Overijssel, for their annual training camp in the
village of De Lutte. Cottage hotel De
Bloemenbeek will once again be their home for a
week. Ajax will play several firnely fixtures against amateur
clubs from the area, starting with a fixture on Tuesday evening
against ABS, in the town of Bathmen. (MP)
GOALS
- 09' 0-1 Nicolae Mitea
- ??' 0-2 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
- ??' 0-3 Rydell Poepon
- ??' 1-3 Orville Blankendaal
- ??' 1-4 Angelos Charisteas
- ??' 1-5 Nicolae Mitea
Referee: unknown
Cards: none
Attendance: 3,500
Ajax line-up: Vermeer (46. Van Duin);
Ogararu, Boakye, Vertonghen, Emanuelson (71. Roger); Gabri (46.
Sarpong), Lindenbergh, Roger (46. Poepon); Rosales (46. De
Mul), Huntelaar (46. Charisteas), Mitea.
JOS
Watergraafsmeer line-up: Dirven (83.
Leblanc); Jepkes, Jongkind (53. Middelbeek), Ouachour,
Aourieghel (71. Goeverneur); De Jong (83. De Groot), Dettmer,
Menders (53. Van Guine); Bond (53. Annema), Ikariden (62.
Blankendaal), Lynch (85. Stoc).
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