After Sunday’s game against Ajax my feelings were much the same as I really felt this was a game we were going to win.

With the way we played and the number of goals scoring chances that we had it is difficult to come to terms with just a draw in that game, we went behind in the cruellest of ways.

They scored from a counterattack, after we missed the opportunity to go ahead. Once again not taking the chances on offer cost us and we had to chase the game.

We made a few changes to the team - Ditheko Mototo started and he played well at left back, this allowed us to use David Obua on the left side of midfield which has always been his position of choice.

The midfield was once again strong. Gert Schalkwyk really troubled Ajax with his pace, although he should have taken the chances available to him and not wasted so many.

We made a few tactical changes in the first half - Mototo played more centrally and it seemed to suit him, he seemed to enjoy playing in a central position and being allowed to attack.

His attacking abilities came to the fore with a brilliant goal; it is a good sign to see that he is so versatile which means he can be used in a number of different positions.

We once again find ourselves in the peculiar situation of facing the proverbial Banana peel, like we did before we played against Pirates at the end of October.

We have a mid week game against Free State Stars before we can begin thinking about Pirates. Firstly we will prepare ourselves for Wednesday’s game against Stars and start getting our minds ready for Pirates on Thursday.

Stars who were struggling for a short period during the season seem to be on a roll at the moment and with an emphatic win over Bloemfontein Celtic in the Free State Derby their confidence will be sky rocketing.

They have also acquired the services of veteran striker Wilfred Mugeyi who will add that extra dimension to their play. Although a veteran he is still a very dangerous player.

Stars do also have their limitations and I have found that they are a team that do not concentrate for the full ninety minutes and this has cost them recently.

Recently much has been made about Scara Ngobese’s non-appearance at training last week. I have said to the players over the course of the past few months that I want to see commitment.

Commitment comes in various shapes and form - giving 100% in training, helping the team to be successful and ones commitment can be shown through their punctuality.

Scara has been late for training on a number of occasions and he apologized and said it will not happen again and it did, we have had a talk with him and in my mind Scara is a wonderful player and highly talented and I would like to see him succeed.

But he needs to get his mind into the correct gear and start thinking like a professional soccer player, it is unfair because of a player’s name he is excused for his behaviour.

What kind of an example does that set for the rest of the team? He knows there are plenty of players waiting in the wings - the likes of Gerald Sibeko and the other guys will take the opportunity afforded to them.

He knows what is needed of him and he should stand tall and take responsibility for his action, when it comes to disciplinary measures that should be taken against him that is not up to me but up to management to decide what should be done.

The door to first team selection is open to any of the thirty-three players on our books and over the past few weeks, we have given a host of different players the opportunity to prove themselves.

The first step to finding himself in the starting eleven for Scara is to make sure that he finds his way to the training ground early in the morning, and show that he is committed to the team.

Finally I would like to congratulate our four players who have found themselves selected in the provisional 35-man squad selected by Ted Dumitru for the African Cup of Nations.

To Arthur Zwane, Rowen Fernandez and Jimmy Tau good luck and I am confident they will make the final cut and represent South Africa at the nations cup.

Scara Ngobese has also been called up by Ted and to him my message is “ Scara there are people who believe in your ability the time has come for you to make this belief come true.

Here is an opportunity for you that could help to catapult you to International soccer stardom. Make use of it and get the most out of it.“

Ernst Middendorp