SOCCER: Andrew Muchineripi
IT may sound Irish to disclose that the South African soccer season begins this weekend, five months after the first matches were played. It also happens to be true.
At the beginning of the year it was decided to introduce a Premier League, run along the lines of the remarkably successful English Premiership. Another change was an August start instead of the traditional February.
Faced with the problem of keeping several hundred footballers active for six months, Coca-Cola bridged the gap by bankrolling a single-round league called the Challenge Cup.
It ended last weekend at Odi Stadium with an exciting 1-1 draw between Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, who failed by two points to catch winners Kaizer Chiefs.
The Amakhosi are now entitled to represent South Africa in the 1997 African Champions’ Cup although lack of sponsorship and quality players may prevent them competing.
Now the Coca-Cola Cup takes centre stage with eight first-round matches spread over the weekend from King’s Park soccer stadium in Durban to Odi Stadium north-west of Pretoria.
Final placings on the Challenge Cup standings dictated the draw with first-placed Chiefs meeting 16th-placed Hellenic, second-placed Pirates facing 15th-placed Real Rovers, and so on.
Unfortunately, the outcome meant many fixtures around Johannesburg with matches scheduled for Alexandra Stadium, Johannesburg Stadium and Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday.
The quest for the R200 000 first prize begins on Friday evening in Durban where Manning Rangers host QwaQwa Stars in a repeat of a recent Challenge Cup encounter which produced eight goals and a local victory.
With Rangers involved goals are almost guaranteed as they slammed nine goals past Crystal Brains in the Challenge Cup just a few weeks after conceding the same number against Chiefs.
The most attractive of the three Saturday cup ties pairs Pirates, shock losers to Wits in the 1995 final, with unpredictable Potgietersrus-based Rovers.
Normally, one would not hesitate to select the Buccaneers, but the team are tired from an international and local programme which demanded too much of semi-professionals.
Rovers served a warning last month by taking the lead twice against Chiefs in Johannesburg and being deprived of victory by an injury-time goal from former player Mike Rapatsa.
Vaal Professionals, the only South African club to defeat Pirates in a competitive match this season, host Bush Bucks from Umtata at Zamdela Stadium. The Sasolburg stadium is renowned for its rock-hard, brown-tinted pitch and an unpleasant smell which drifts across the ground from a nearby steel plant.
Professionals are cock-a-hoop after lowering the Jolly Roger and unless Bucks can reverse a slump in form which saw them drift to 14th position on the Challenge Cup standings, defeat seems likely.
Only a few hundred spectators are likely at Odi Stadium for the clash of Supersport United and AmaZulu, which is a pity given the potential for a thriller.
In theory, this match should be the closest as Supersport finished eighth and the Usuthu ninth in the league phase and there were no goals when the teams clashed in Durban a few months ago.
Chiefs may have won the Challenge Cup, but there is general agreement that the present wearers of the black and gold pale when compared with the great teams of the past.
National captain Neil Tovey remains an inspirational guiding force at the back and David Modise and Isaac “Shakes” Kungoane have their moments in midfield.
But despite the goals of Rapatsa and Pollen Ndlanya, the attack lacks class and Amakhosi supporters must dream of the early 1990s when Fani Madida and Shane MacGregor wreaked havoc.
On Sunday they host Hellenic, probably the youngest Premier League team even if coach Colin Gie is having second thoughts after a string of Challenge Cup losses following a bright start.
The Moroka Swallows-Wits match at Dobsonville is a repeat of a first-round encounter last year, which the Students won 2-0 through goals from Warren du Pont and Chris Mwakapuki.
Swallows showed a welcome return to form recently by holding Pirates in Alexandra after leading for most of the match and defeating Sundowns through a late Andries Mpondo goal.
Cosmos, the nomads of the First Division with as many homes as they have players, tackle erratic Cape Town Spurs in Alexandra before taking up permanent residence at Pam Brink Stadium in Springs.
Spurs displayed grit to come from behind and defeat Supersport at Rand Stadium only to give an appaling performance soon after when losing to Pirates in Alexandra.
This could be one of the closest encounters with home advantage offering a slight advantage to Cosmos, the team owned and coached by former national star Jomo “The Black Prince” Sono. Sundowns displayed collective strength when containing Pirates and new coach Reinhard Fabisch faces an equally tough challenge in Bloemfontein against revitalised Celtic.
The Free State outfit finished fifth in the Challenge Cup, boosted by an unbeaten home record which included only six goals being conceded in nine matches.
Should any match finish level after normal time, 30 minutes extra time will be played followed by a penalty shootout if necessary. The winners qualify for the quarter-finals from August 23-25.