It will not only be the aura of success enshrouding Ajax that will bother D’Avary, but also the transformation of the once dilapidated stadium into an imposing glitzy international-standard venue. Yes, the scenario was pretty gloomy at Athlone at the time D’Avary was hailed as the King of the Castle in 1995.

D’Avary then coached Cape Town Spurs to a superb double by winning the then National Soccer League and BobSave Super Bowl in his glory season at Spurs.

Spurs, under the directorship of Ajax’s current boss, John Comitis, included top notch players like goalkeeper André Arendse, David Nyathi, Roger Links and Shaun Bartlett. While D’Avary went on to further his professional coaching career in Australia, Comitis helped spearhead the merger between Spurs and Seven Stars under the Ajax Cape Town banner in 2000.

However, there’ll be no favours asked by either of the former Spurs luminaries when their clubs clash in a crucial Premier Soccer League (PSL) encounter between Celtic and Ajax tonight at 19:30.

D’Avary said he was not aiming for quick success, and Celtic needed time to settle when he took over the reins in July. He may be a little more impatient for success now as Celtic have only notched one point in three matches.

Stalwart John Maduka and his quick-breaking midfield partner Moses Spandeel are D’Avary’s key players in a new-look Celtic side. Ajax on the other hand, despite a 2-0 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs in Pretoria on Saturday night, have shown they have not ditched the adventurous approach that earned them a worthy second place in the PSL last season.

Sameehg Doutie, Sifiso Vilakazi and Franklin Cale have emerged as consistent goalscorers. The result could have been different against Chiefs if shots from Doutie and Vilakazi had not struck the posts before Chiefs broke the stalemate a mere four minutes from the end.

. Santos FC faces Orlando Pirates in a PSL clash in Johannesburg on Saturday at 20:00.