Gerald Combrinck
TO THE average man, this Sunday’s derby between Cape Town Spurs and Hellenic will be just another game, but to the soccer die-hards of the Cape the game is more important than the Milan derby at San Siro, or the London one between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.
Be it on the field or on the terraces of Athlone Stadium, the tension will be unbearable as Spurs attempt to maintain their nine-game unbeaten record and Hellenic aim for their third straight win after a poor start to the season.
With Mich D’Avray coaching the national U23 side, Spurs have been unable to fulfil their fixture commitments.
Hellenic lost their first game of the season and their problems were further compounded when their star striker Grant Young was injured. But Young’s injury proved to be a blessing in disguise for Wedson Nyirenda. Signed from Kaizer Chiefs, where the Zambian international striker was struggling to make the team, Nyirenda has scored three goals in as many games.
Hellenic have scored 10 goals in their last three games, and apart from Nyirenda’s three, Gerald Stober has scored five and Carlos Das Neves two.
Over the years, and as in all derbies, form has counted for nothing on the day of the game. Last season Spurs went into the game slight favourites, but the game ended in a 2-2 draw with the point they dropped possibly costing them the league.
League runners-up last season Spurs, out to maintain their unbeaten record, will welcome the return of star striker Shaun Bartlett, who missed the last five games due to a broken jaw. But Bartlett realises that he will have to fight to regain his place, as while he was out U 23 international Randall Borman and new boy signed from second division side Battswood, Reggie Mentoor, have been finding the net with pleasing regularity.
“The two are playing well at the moment, so the competition will be tough,” said Bartlett.
Spurs coach D’Avray’s worst fears were realised last week when his goalkeeper Andre Arendse was injured while training with the national squad.
D’Avray has been unable to find a replacement in Cape Town where there seems to be a shortage of top class goalkeepers. Opponents Hellenic have had the same problem, and they signed national ‘keeper Steve Crowley from Chiefs.