Nigerian midfielder Ejike Uzoenyi has impressed coach Stanley Menzo while on trial at Ajax Cape Town, but a final decision has yet to be made on the player’s future.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns flop joined league champions Bidvest Wits in February, yet managed just 42 minutes in two substitute league appearances for the Clever Boys, and is not part of Gavin Hunt’s plans for the new campaign.
Uzoenyi is now trying his luck in Cape Town, where he has been on trial with the Urban Warriors for the past two weeks and featured in a 4-0 friendly win over Cape Town All Stars on Wednesday morning.
And coach Menzo says he has liked what he has seen from the diminutive Nigerian.
“He is a smart player, and reads the game well,” Menzo tells KickOff.com. “I’m happy with what I’ve seen, he’s got a good left foot and good final pass. Is he the player we are looking for? I don’t know yet, but you can see he is a good player.”
Ajax have fielded a number of trialists over the past week, including Coldrin Coetzee, Khulekani Madondo, Mango Dombo, Yusuf Jappie, Sifiso Mfundo, Nakouho Kingu and Brazilian defender Jairo Souza da Silva, who landed in the country last week Thursday.
Menzo is aware that replacements in his squad are needed, yet says it’s too early to tell which of the numerous trialists will be handed a contract.
“We have seen most of the trialists for two-and-a-half weeks, so we have a good opinion of them,” he says. “We know their abilities now, but we are yet to make final decisions. We have a camp coming up next week, and we will have to see who will come with us. The players cannot be on trial forever, but it is too early to say yes or no.”
Ajax jet off to Johannesburg on Monday, where they have lined up friendly encounters against SuperSport United, University of Pretoria and Maritzburg United as part of their pre-season preparations.