The Urban Warriors released a number of players at the end of last season, including Nathan Paulse, Lebohang Mokoena, Lawrence Lartey and Abel Mabaso, while captain Travis Graham looks set to depart as well.
Earlier this week, playmaker Mark Mayambela, who featured in 23 league matches last season, netting three goals and contributing three assists, also left the club following his return to Chippa United.
Menzo says he’s unconcerned by the number of exits, though acknowledged that a new left winger is now a priority signing.
“Every player you lose that was a regular is a loss, but that’s football – players come and players go,” he tells snl24.com/kickoff. “Mayambela has now gone, and we wish him good luck. Now we are definitely looking to fill that left wing position.”
Menzo earlier this week voiced his discontent with wantaway defender Rivaldo Coetzee’s absence from pre-season training, but denies it leaving an ill-feeling amongst the squad.
“I don’t have that feeling, no,” he says. “As a group you have to be one and have to go on, because you can’t be sad that someone has decided not to come and train. It’s a pity, but we go on; players have to work on their performance because we can’t keep thinking about this. But I don’t have the feeling that it’s affected the team, not at all.
“Every club loses their best defenders and best strikers – it’s normal, and part of football. I won’t mull over this too much, it’s normal and we go on.”
Ajax have lined up three friendly encounters in Gauteng next week, where they will face SuperSport United, Maritzburg United and University of Pretoria.