Dolly Set On Growing At Ajax
Keagan Dolly is red-hot
in South African football at the moment. After his outstanding performance for
Ajax Cape Town last season, the ABSA Premiership young player of the season is
being tracked by some of the biggest clubs in the country. But where does the
attacking midfielder see his career going? Dolly talks about his future plans.
Personal Information
Full names: Keagan Lorenzo Dolly
Date of birth: 22 January 1993
Place of birth: Johannesburg
Nickname: Keagz
Jersey no: 28
Position: Attacking midfielder
Club: Ajax Cape Town
Previous teams: Mamelodi Sundowns and School of excellence
Honours: 2013/14 PSL young Player of the Season
Keagan, basically
everyone is talking about Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs
being linked with you. Given the money
they have, is it not time to start thinking of cashing-in with a move to one of
them?
As a youngster it`s always tempting to just
go after the money you know. A lot of people have spoken to me about this, they
have told me I`m still young and should not be in it for the cash. When I was
younger, I used to tell myself that I`m not doing this for money. I told myself
I love playing soccer. I mean, I look up to a guy like Thulani Hlatshwayo, he
stayed at Ajax for a number of seasons and when the time was right, he moved.
He went to Wits where I`m sure he`s getting good money. That’s why I want to
stay a bit longer at Ajax. Then maybe one day a better contract will pop up.
What is your fear
of leaving for Chiefs, Downs and Bucs
right now?
In England if Chelsea, Manchester United or
Liverpool come calling at a smaller team, a player normally jumps at the
chance. No, overseas it`s
different. Youngsters by the age of 15 or 16 get opportunities to make the
first team. In South Africa, when you are 17 to 21, they consider you a “small
boy”. It`s not that I`m afraid of competition or whatever. It`s just that it`s
not the right time to move. Ajax gave me
the platform to start my career. To just leave right away would not be fair. I
left Sundowns because I didn`t get an opportunity in the first team. So, after
joining Ajax I played against Manchester United in my first season. This shows
you how first team game time can be important to your career. It would be
pointless for me to go somewhere and play for half the season, and then in the
other half not even be included in the squad. I just believe if I stay at Ajax
my possibilities of going to Europe are much better than they are in
Johannesburg.
Why didn’t things
work-out for you at Downs’ development?
I just decided that the place where we stayed
was not good. In the development ranks things kept changing. There were
tactical and team changes. New coaches kept coming and going. There just wasn`t
an opportunity for me to show-case my talent in the first team, I mean, I
played once in the first team in the three years I was there. I just figured
out that the club was not for me.
Having
experienced life first hand at Chloorkop, how much could Downs’ buying policy
impact youth development in your opinion?
Obviously Sundowns are a big team, they have lots of money. So, if you are an
established player in South Africa then it`s because they want to win things. I
think it`s working for them to buy all the big players, but for young players
who come through the development, it`s a setback to be loaned out. Ajax for
example is a club known for promoting and playing youngsters. That`s the
difference between Ajax and Downs. Ajax believe in promoting players and
playing them. Sundowns believe in winning trophies. I`m not sure I wouldn`t
want to go back. Downs will always have a place in my heart. They helped me
when I was younger. If I had not spent three years there, then I wouldn`t be
the player I am today. Look, anything can happen in football and I could even
join them in the future. You can`t rule anything out.
Let`s talk about
Pirates’ interest in you. They are a team often associated with fast wing play,
where could you potentially fit in with the Bucs current line-up?
They have many wingers and they are good. It`s would be a privilege to play
with the likes of Daine Klate, Sifiso Myeni and Tlou Segolela. But, if I went
there, I`d want to play the free role, in front of Oupa Manyisa.
If you could wrap
up your career in a present, stating what it is that you want to achieve, what
would the future hold for Keagan Dolly?
I’d stay at Ajax for another season or two. I`d say if I don`t move to Europe
in the next two or three seasons, possibly I`d move to one of the big clubs in
Gauteng. That`s my home and that would be ideal for me. So really it`s one more
year at Ajax then a move to one of the smaller teams in Europe.
Keagz, thank you
very for your time,
Thank
you