Kickoff (Cape Town)
12 December 2008
Ajax Cape Town centre-back Clayton Daniels' return to the team has come at just the right time for the young defender.
Making his debut in the 2006/ 2007 season, Daniels impressed with some assured performances. After just a few games in the PSL he played with the confidence and experience of a seasoned campaigner and quickly became a regular in the side.
However, the arrival of Brazilian defender Eduardo Ferreira, who partnered the experienced Bageta Dikulu, saw Daniels, who also battled with injury, fail to make much of an impression last season.
When Dikulu departed for Maritzburg United in the off-season, the Cape side brought in two new centre backs - Nhlanhla Kubeka and Martin Carelse, both who appeared to be above Daniels in the pecking order.
Unlike many of his contemporaries at the Cape side, Daniels did not rise up through the junior ranks - he remained in amateur football until the age of 22, when Ajax signed him from Clyde Pinelands.
And it is perhaps the fact that the Bishop Lavis-born defender has had to do things the hard way in his career which gave him the strength to keep plugging away when things didn't go his way.
His perseverance appears to have paid off at just the right time however - a few weeks ago an injury to Carelse opened the door for a return to the side for Daniels, who grabbed the opportunity with both hands by scoring a brace against Bidvest Wits.
"When I was out injured other players came in and did a good job so it wasn't easy for me to get back into the side - the coach couldn't just drop a player because I was available again," Daniels said of his time on the sidelines.
Given the chance to play again, the 24-year old is happy that he has been able to make the most of his opportunity, which has coincided with the Urban Warriors' fantastic form over the last month or so.
"It came at the right time for me. I was happy to have been given the chance and it was great to be able to help the team beat Wits. All I can do now is keep working hard and make it difficult for the coach to drop me. My focus is now on the final - I can't wait to play in such a big game," said Daniels.
Carelse is now back from injury, but with Kubeka is out injured and Ferreira suspended for the final, Daniels is assured a place in the starting XI for the Telkom Cup final against Orlando Pirates on Saturday night in Chatsworth.
Another Ajax player who has had more than his fair share of injury set-backs over the years is midfielder Nhlanhla Shabalala.
But this season has seen him staying clear of the treatment rooms, which has allowed him to play a key role in the middle of the park for the Urban Warriors.
While he now has to fight for a place in the team with Clifford Ngobeni, who is back from injury, Shabalala is grateful just to be firing on all cylinders again.
"About two seasons ago the team did really well and made it to two finals. It hurts to see them achieving that success without me. But I am back now, this season was the first time in quite a few years that I have had a full pre-season with the team and I feel fitter, stronger and healthier than ever," said Shabalala.
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