De fans van Ajax Cape Town hebben middels een brief - in handen van Ajax Showtime - aan Ajax-directeur Edwin van der Sar om duidelijkheid gevraagd. Al langer gaan de geruchten dat Ajax wil stoppen met de samenwerking met Ajax Cape Town, al blijft een definitief vertrek uit Kaapstad voorlopig uit.

In de brief vraagt de supportersgroep om duidelijkheid van Ajax. Marlon Moses, de leider van de supportersgroep, begint zijn verhaal door te stellen dat - zeker ten tijde van de coronacrisis - open en eerlijke communicatie belangrijker dan ooit is.

De supporter is blij met het werk van Ajax in Kaapstad, zo verzekert hij. Volgens hem gaat de samenwerking verder dan alleen spelers opleiden voor Ajax Amsterdam. Zo heeft Ajax Cape Town dankzij de samenwerking met Ajax Amsterdam meer dan 160 spelers kunnen opleiden tot profvoetballers. Spelers die anders mogelijk een heel ander leven - gezien de gebieden (met veel bendes) waar ze vandaan komen - zouden hebben gehad.

Het komt erop neer dat men vreest voor het beëindigen van de samenwerking tussen de twee clubs. 'De laatste tijd valt in de media te lezen over het mogelijke vertrek van Amsterdam in deze samenwerking. Het zou het grootste verlies zijn dat ons ooit zou kunnen overkomen. Jonge kinderen dromen ervan om voor Ajax Cape Town en later Ajax Amsterdam te spelen. Het zal heartbreaking zijn als Ajax Amsterdam besluit zich terug te trekken en al haar aandelen besluit te verkopen.'

Men gelooft in Zuid-Afrika in het Nederlandse systeem. 'Het is aantrekkelijk en het ontwikkelt voetballers die perfect tweebenig zijn. Naast de voetballende kant, is het iets bijzonders om Amsterdamse (en andere Nederlandse) fans op vakantie te zien in Kaapstad. Die mensen wonen onze wedstrijden bij en doen herinneringen en vriendschappen op.'

De brief wordt besloten met een viertal vragen aan het adres van Ajax-directeur Van der Sar. 1) Zal Ajax zijn aandeel van 51 procent verkopen? 2) Wanneer wordt er een beslissing genomen over de toekomst van deze club? 3) Wat zijn op dit moment de overwegingen om wel of niet door te gaan? 4) Is er een kans op het opnieuw starten van de samenwerking tussen Ajax en Ajax Cape Town met meer Nederlandse betrokkenheid via trainers en bijvoorbeeld twee of drie jeugdteams die Kaapstad jaarlijks bezoeken om het op te nemen tegen de jeugd van Ajax Cape Town?

Zie hieronder de brief:

Dear Edwin van der Sar

Greetings from a sunny Cape Town, I trust this letter reaches you and your family in good health and happiness.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about many challenges which extend beyond the game we all love, and has led to an unprecedented and testing situation for everyone. In these circumstances and the ongoing uncertainty with Amsterdam`s stance on Ajax Cape Town, open and honest communication is more important than ever, and it is with this in mind that I am writing directly to you on behalf of the Ajax Cape Town fans as Ajax Cape Town enters 21 years of a special brand and partnership with Ajax Amsterdam. I want to start by acknowledging the incredible work being carried out by AFC management, staff and players. Their collective sacrifice for the club and its supporters is something to be truly proud of, and one which – on behalf of the Ajax Cape Town supporters – I would like to sincerely thank them for.

It is often said that football is like a family, and we have seen that many times with the successes and failures of this special partnership that Ajax Cape Town and Ajax Amsterdam has.

When it comes to footballing matters, I understand the desire among fans for definitive answers, particularly around the Mother club (Ajax) breaking ties with Ajax Cape Town. As I am sure you will appreciate, the situation presents significant operational, emotional and financial challenges. What must not be forgotten is the fans and supporters of Ajax Cape Town who not only support the Urban Warriors but also our Mother club Ajax Amsterdam. When Amsterdam lose, it’s a loss for Cape Town. When Amsterdam wins, it’s a victory for Cape Town too.

To give you an honest assessment of the current situation; the fans and supporters are concerned with the evident divorce of Ajax Cape Town and Ajax Amsterdam. We well aware of the reasons why Amsterdam has formed this partnership but I can assure you it goes way further than just the development of players or spotting of talent so that Amsterdam can use them potentially in their senior team. What this partnership has brought Cape Town and South Africa at large is hope and dreams. In its 21 years of current existence Ajax Cape Town through the youth academy has presented so many footballers with careers in football, especially in the Premier Soccer League where more than 160 players who have come through the youth ranks have gone onto making a living for themselves and achieve dreams that were once a distant vision if you based it on their background circumstances and the gang ridden areas they come from. So many have even gone on to represent their country not only through junior level but official caps for their country.

The latest turn of events that has almost every media house reporting Amsterdam’s imminent departure in this partnership is something that does not sit well with the supporters and would be the greatest loss that could ever happen to us as supporters and young kids who aspire to play for Ajax Cape Town and one day step onto the field of the Ajax Arena. Ajax Cape Town as a brand has broadened the vision of players through the latest techniques, training, equipment and even the opportunity to compete in top European competition’s which can never be measured in monetary terms. These are dreams that are realized daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.

The average Ajax Cape Town fan is more than just pitching up on a Saturday to watch and support the senior team play, they follow the youth`s progress so they know who their future starts are whilst having the pleasure of seeing our youth play proper total football. You yourself Mr. CEO along with other management have seen first-hand the youth at Ajax Cape Town, it will be the biggest heartbreak should Ajax Amsterdam decide to pull out and sell their shares. We believe in the Dutch system, it`s attractive, it develops holistic players who are able to play with both feet. Besides the footballing side, seeing Amsterdam ( and other Dutch) fans on holiday in Cape Town attending our matches, creating memories and friendships and letting them tour Ikamva at a minutes notice is something special and second to none.

As I said, the fans have many questions, and we sincerely hope that between yourself and the Ajax Cape Town board that you`ll collectively endeavour to continue to provide answers and solutions rather than backing out. Here are the pertinent questions that fans have been asking 1.) Will Ajax pull out and sell their 51% shares, 2.) When will a decision be made about the clubs future, 3.) What are the considerations at the present moment? And 4.) Lastly is there any chance of a relaunch of the partnership between Ajax and Ajax Cape Town with more Dutch involvement via coaches, Youth tours and Amsterdam visiting Cape Town annually by bringing two or three youth teams to compete against our Ajax Cape Town Youth.

I thank you for your patience so far and ask for more of the same as this is a serious situation which affects the day to day living of players ,staff and supporters but also carries the hopes and dreams of future generations .

One thing we can assure you as fans is that in the words of Bill Shankley: “Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I can assure them it is much more serious than that.”

For now, thank you for your ongoing support .Please stay safe.

Yours in sport,

Marlon Moses.

Ajax Cape Town and Ajax Amsterdam Supporters & Fans.

Cape Town, South Africa

Co-signed by Wayne Philander, Ludovic Kabasele, Lesley De Vos, Roger Dickson, Ntuthuzelo Thibani, Sturley Wright, Gift Mpho, Lulama Butswayi, Mabinha Mkhanya, John Stevens, Pabalo Dikgale, Neil Kester, Allie Hess, Wayne Carstens, Ashwell Silence.

Bart Veenstra (Twitter: @Bart_Veenstra | e-mail: b.veenstra@ajaxshowtime.com)