THERE was a touch of irony about the goal which signalled the end of a long unbeaten run by Orlando Pirates last weekend and effectively handed the Coca-Cola Challenge Cup to arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs.
Vaal Professionals are the Wimbledon of South African football, a Route One team who play it long and straight and hard, which made the goal scored by Ernest Marumo at Zamdela Stadium last weekend all the more amazing.
After winning an aerial duel in midfield, Professionals made a couple of quick passes on the bumpy surface before Marumo unleashed a drive which gave Nigerian goalkeeper Williams Okpara no chance.
The one-goal defeat must have provided much food for thought for Russian coach Victor Bondarenko because the playing conditions are not unlike those they may experience against Shooting Stars.
Defending champions Pirates face the Nigerians in the African Champions’ Cup quarterfinals soon and the West Africans are likely to be equally strong physically and difficult to dispossess.
Boy wonder Steve Lekoelea, so skilful and threatening on the smooth surface of FNB Stadium, looked like a child who had gatecrashed a match between grown-ups.
Professionals lack the financial clout and the strength in depth to seriously challenge for the Premier League, scheduled to kick off in Cape Town on August 9.
But the Vaal Monsters, well coached by chain-smoking former Chiefs star Simon “Bull” Lehoko, are capable of making life tough for Pirates, Chiefs, Sundowns and other title pretenders.
ENDS