SOCCER: Clinton Assari
WITH the talk of bugged telephones, cartels and shady deals in the corridors of the FNB stadium over for the moment, the action moves back on to the field with the last 32 of the Bobsave Superbowl Knockout Competition this weekend.
There will be five all-first-division matches which will see some of the big guns clashing.
Defending champions Witbank Aces have the tough task of taking on second-on- the-log Cape Town Spurs at Athlone Stadium, in Cape Town. Aces, who won the cup via the back door last season, (they were reinstated after the side that beat them in the semi-finals, Chatsworth Rangers, were expelled for fielding improperly registered players) will have their work cut out against the highly talented Spurs line-up.
Orlando Pirates also travel to the Mother City to face Hellenic and are confident they will thrash Budgie Byrne’s “Greek Gods”.
“The way we are playing now, no team will stand in our way,” boasted the Bucs PRO, Skhumbuzo Mthembu, when he saw the draw.
Chances are, however, that the two Cape sides will lead their Reef opponents on a “Kaapse Dans”, and both advance to the next round.
Recently acquired by M-Net, Pretoria City have yet to produce the type of “magic” that has become synonomous with their owner’s name. They play Kaizer Chiefs, and judging by the rueful smile on the face of manager Terry Paine when he saw the draw, there could be a surprise awaiting the “Mighty Amakhosi”.
Qwa Qwa Stars will be hoping that star striker Bunene Ngaduane will be fit when they host Umtata Bucks.
Having already clinched the CocaCola Cup, the home side will be hoping to add the lucrative Bobsave title to their trophy cabinet.
In the last of the “all-first-division clashes”, Manning Rangers travel to Pietersburg to face Real Rovers and will be hoping for a repetition of their run in last season’s competition, when a technicality saw them expelled from the tournament.
The other seven first division sides look to have been treated well by the draw, though, as it has become common with cup competitions, this should not be used as a yardstick.
Interestingly enough, of the seven, only two have secured home draws. Durban sides Royal Tigers, who are bottom of the table, and D’Alberton Callies, also facing the relegation bogey, play Classics and Reservoir Hills respectively.
League champions Mamelodi Sundowns, and twice winners of the competition Moroka Swallows, both travel to the Eastern Transvaal for their games.
The “Brazilians” play Giyani Classics, and have vowed to win the only domestic cup that has eluded them thus far. Also, judging by their recent form — 11 goals in their last two games — they could be well on their way there.
Winners in 1989 and 1991, the “Beautiful Birds” face Acornbush United, who currently occupy second position on the log in the inland stream of the NSL second division, and Swallows, hammered 5-1 by Sundowns last weekend, will be eager to get back on track.
Wits travel to Kimberley to engage in William Pescod, while Amazulu travel into the unknown to take on a team by the name of Mighty Greens.
A game that could prove to be one of the most interesting of the weekend is the clash between Vaal Professionals and regional third division log leaders in the Western Cape, Saxon Rovers, in Cape Town.
Along with Spurs and Hellenic, Saxons are one of five Cape sides still in the competition. They have the former Hellenic stalwart Taswald Human in their side, and have been setting Cape Town alight with their exciting brand of attacking football.
It will surprise no-one (on the Cape Flats, of course!) if the home side topples the “Vaal Monsters”.
The other two Cape sides, Battswood and Trinitarians, meet in a clash that should see second division Battswood advance to the next round.