While other sides will be doing their pre-season training in South Africa, Absa Premiership side Ajax Cape Town will do theirs in Netherlands where they will play five games against top Dutch sides.

The 'Urban Warriors' will play mother club, Ajax Amsterdam, Warnsfeld, Wilhelm II, Sparta FC and De Graafshap.

"I am looking forward to this tour as we will be able to test our abilities against the players in Holland," said Franklin Cale.

Nhlanhla Shabalala echoed Cale's sentiments and said: "Although this will be my fifth trip to Holland I am looking forward to being part of a squad of players making the trip. The last time we played against Ajax Amsterdam we beat them 3-1 at the Athlone Stadium, now we will play them at their home ground. We expect a tough game but I believe we are up for the challenge."

The Ajax players will come up against their former team-mates Eyong Enoh and Daylon Claasen, who now play for Ajax Amsterdam.

Ajax Cape Town leave South Africa on Wednesday 01 July 2009 and their first game of the tour will be against Amsterdam on Saturday, 4 July.

"Our technical team and players are upbeat about this tour. Playing and training in Holland will give them a chance to evaluate their squad out of the glare of the local media," said Ajax PRO Shooz Mekuto.

"We face a very important season ahead of the 2010 South African World Cup and what better way than to prepare with games against top foreign opposition. Our team returns on 14 July and by that time we will know what is required to challenge for honours in the new season," concluded Mekuto.

Meanwhile, Ajax have announced that captain Brett Evans and winger Franklin Cale have extended their stays at the 'Urban Warriors' by a further three years.


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