WeeklySA_AdminEVENLY MATCHED: It’s a Mokoena versus Mokoena debacle as Swallows seek to make amends following their loss to Bucs
By Masoja Cele
On my left resplendent in white and maroon strip is veteran Lebohang “Cheeseboy” Mokoena of Swallows FC. On my right in blue attire with shades of white and red is young prodigy Tebogo Mokoena, in the employ of the unpredictable SuperSport United.
But come Sunday the two Mokoena’s despite sharing the same totem – the crocodile – will have to put their family ties aside when their teams battle it out in a DStv Premiership game, Dobsonville Stadium 3pm kickoff.
Leading his wounded Swallows – their bubble form burst out last weekend with a 1-0 loss to Orlando Pirates in a league fixture – the veteran master-schemer ‘’Cheeseboy’’ whose experience is unquestionably evident in the field of play where he conducts the midfield orchestra with great aplomb.
Despite his high mileage “Cheeseboy” has contributed largely to the resurrection of Swallows and proven to be an important cog in their machinery. The other Mokoena at SuperSport seems to be maturing like good wine. On his day he’s got the knack to singularly take the game by the scruff of the neck and netting those crucial goals, either via his good shot or when he’s got to convert those set pieces, ala Beckham.
During the recent 2020 Olympics games in Tokyo, Japan, the midfielder raised his hand for South Africa. He was brilliant and a marvel to watch the entire tournament. Mokoena played as a link between his defence and attackers ably assisted by another exciting young midfield general Sipho Mbule.
With bristling talents in the midfield on both sides, this makes for an exciting contest, also considering the two team’s somewhat contrasting but similar style of play.
Just as Swallows have striker Ruzaigh Gamaldien as their marksman, so does SuperSport with goal poacher Bradley Grobler. Gamildien is Swallows deadly striker. He finished the last campaign as Birds leading goal scorer with 11 goals. In the current season he scored a brace against Bucs in the MTN 8 quarter-finals. Grobler boasts a similar pedigree. He was among the top scorers in the past season and seems not to have lost his predatory instincts.
There is vast experience on both sides, with Swallows apart from their Mokoena boasting the likes of Vuyo Mere, Musa Nyatama, and goalkeeper Virgil Vries. SuperSport have the burly forward Thamsanqa Gabuza, defender Bhashera, and goalkeeper Ronwin Williams as part of their arsenal. Likely to further make this encounter more exciting is that Matsatsantsa a Pitori were in action on Tuesday against AmaZulu at Kings Park Stadium. Their match ended in a stalemate (0-0) and they desperately need every point going forwards.
This is a game of the wounded versus the limping…and even with one wing much is expected from Swallows in this encounter. A loss is not an option for The Birds.
