New Ajax Cape Town recruit Lawrence Lartey is hoping to settle in quickly with the Urban Warriors as he hopes to help plug a leaky defence.
The Ghanaian defender, who was signed in November, finally received his work permit earlier this month, and has started the last three games for the Cape side, who are struggling in 12th position in the PSL standings.
Ajax have let in 20 goals in their 14 League matches thus far this season, and five in their last three, and Lartey hopes he will help shore up the backline.
“I have only played a few games, but I hope as time goes on, I hope to settle in properly and cope with every situation at the club,” the 21-year-old tells KickOff.com.
“In the first two games, it wasn’t bad, but then we lost the last game [3-1 to Chippa] and I felt bad. As a defender you always hope for a clean sheet, but unfortunately we didn’t and let in three goals. But things are on course and as time goes on, I believe we will get used to each other a bit more and sort out the small problems.”
Lartey has been utilised in his favourite centre-back position alongside Rivaldo Coetzee, with Abbubake Mobara pushed out wide at right-back, and the junior Black Stars international says he is forming a solid paring with the Bafana Bafana defender.
“Our relationship is good,” he said. “We’ve played a few games now and we are on course. Gradually we will get used to each other and hopefully do the job as one body.”
Lartey then noted the difference between the PSL and Ghana’s top-flight, where he played previously at Ashanti Gold.
“In my point of view, the fields make a huge difference,” he said. “In Ghana we have very few well-kept fields, but coming to South Africa you have much better pitches than Ghana.
“The level football is not that different – it’s good, the reason being here you have the better pitches which makes the game much faster, so that’s a slight difference.”
Ajax take on Golden Arrows at Cape Town Stadium on Friday evening.
Source: KickOff.com