WeeklySA_AdminTITANIC: Form indicates it must be Pirates, Sundowns to cross Nedbank final cup line
By Sports Reporter
All Nedbank semi-finalists gun for glory and the prestige to have their names engraved on the Nedbank Cup.
But it must be Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns who must be favourites to meet in the final, if logic and form are taken into account, this not to rule out upsets which are a possibility.
The four teams will be looking to book a place in the scheduled May 10 final.
To kick-start what should be a late lunch for football lovers, Orlando Pirates host Marumo Gallants at Orlando Stadium in a match that is scheduled to kick off at 3pm, while Downs host welcome Kaizer Chiefs at the Loftus Versfeld at 6pm.
While Pirates will be chasing a third victory in a row in the competition having already achieved a hat-trick of the MTN8 titles in the last three years, the stakes are high for the Amakhosi who are two games away from breaking their decade-long trophy drought.
This Nedbank semi-final presents the Amakhosi with a gilt-edged opportunity to ending this barren spell.
Kaizer Chiefs Nasreddine Nabi, whether he is playing mind games or not, was quoted as saying he is “not under pressure” to end their 10-year trophy drought.
This despite the fact the Brazilians have already beaten Chiefs in three successive matches across all competitions this season.
The hordes of Chiefs supporters are praying for their charges to salvage something this season, which makes for a humdinger of a game.
Only a win against Sundowns will appease the long-suffering Amakhosi fans who also turned out en masse to rally behind the senior team as they gathered at the Atlyn Shopping Centre in Atteridgeville on Friday, for a Vodacom and Kaizer Chiefs activation.
The roadshow featured appearances by players, Happy Mashiane, Tebogo Potsane, and Samkelo Zwane, who mingled with supporters and participated in various activities. Former Kaizer Chiefs defender, Erick Mathoho, well-versed in the drama of this high-stakes encounter, was also in attendance.
“I’m confident that things will turn around for the team,” Mathoho said, expressing his optimism about the team’s prospects. “The players need all the support they can get, and I’m happy to see the fans coming out in numbers to motivate the team.”
This season’s fourth meeting between Chiefs and Sundowns promises to be an intense affair, with the Brazilians holding an edge in their previous three encounters. However, the Glamour Boys are driven by the prospect of securing a coveted spot in the final, which would not only bring them closer to returning to continental competition but also provide a much-needed boost to their season.
“We’re inspired by the nature of the competition,” said Amakhosi winger, Potsane, “We know that reaching the final would be a significant step towards achieving our goals, and we’re focused on giving it our all.
“We also want to be remembered as a generation that contributed to the trophy cabinet,” he added.
