WeeklySA_Admin
NEDBANK FINAL: THREATS OF DISRUPTIONS OR INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE CONDEMNED AS AMAKHOSI LOOK TO END CUP DROUGHT
By Ali Mphaki
After years of hunger, there shall be years of plenty. Such is the hope against hope for legions of Kaizer Chiefs fans ahead of the Soweto Derby Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Much as the Nedbank Cup final will be the last domestic cup competition encounter for the 2024/25 season, it is also Kaizer Chiefs’last gasp attempt at ending their almost decade long cup drought.
Pirates may have won the last two editions of the competition, but Chiefs have other ideas and will be looking to dethrone their Soweto rivals. Fact is it is not new territory for Chiefs and Pirates to meet where one of the sides is the defending champion; it has happened 10 times since 1972.
What is unique is that Chiefs have previous experience of denying the Buccaneers a successful defence of the Nedbank Cup at the final stage. This has happened twice previously, with Chiefs aiming for a unique hat-trick come Saturday.
When Pirates had won three titles in succession in 1973, 1974 and 1975 (including defeating Chiefs 2-1 in the latter final), they were halted in their tracks by Amakhosi’s 1-0 win the 1976 final in Umlazi. Chiefs’ only goal in that game came courtesy of Pule ‘Ace’ Ntsoelengoe, Chiefs would then go onto defend their title the following season in 1977 again defeating Pirates in the final with another 1-0 win, this time at Orlando Stadium.
Chiefs’ loss to Pirates in the 1975 final remains the only time they have lost a final to Pirates in which the Buccaneers were defending champions. On the most recent occasion the sides clashed the Nedbank Cup final when Pirates were the defending champions, in 1981, Chiefs dethroned Pirates again, winning 3-1 in a replayed final after the first game ended 1-1. Both games were played at Orlando Stadium. Jan ‘Malombo’ Lechaba, Ntsoelengoe and Leonard Likoebe scored for Chiefs; Jomo Sono was Pirates’ lone scorer.
It may be just one week after their league match at FNB Stadium where Pirates clipped Chiefs 2-1, but this is a significant match-up, since it marks Chiefs’ opportunity to break a streak of falling short in their last four cup finals.
Since 2015, Amakhosi have faced disappointment in multiple finals, including the MTN8 and the Telkom Knockout in the 2015/16 season, the Nedbank Cup in 2018/19, as well as the CAF Champions League in 2021. No doubt Chiefs will be eager to secure their 14th Nedbank Cup victory after last missing out on lifting the trophy six years ago. Coach Nasreddine Nabi and his technical team will likely be feeling the pressure and excitement of the prospect of guiding the team to victory in their first season.
Chiefs may just cause a monumental upset.
Kick-off 3.30pm.
