SOCCER: Andrew Muchineripi
THE soccer programme this weekend is nothing if not varied with two Zimbabwe clubs in South Africa, Aces staging a home match several hundred kilometres from their Witbank base, and some strange kick-off times.
On Saturday afternoon, Harare Glamour Boys Dynamos are at PAM Brink Stadium in Springs to face Jomo Cosmos in the second leg of a delicately balanced African Cup-winners Cup second-round tie. Dynamos, easily the most popular and successful Zimbabwe soccer club, triumphed 2-1 at home after makeshift striker Hilton Jordaan had given the Ezenkosi a second-minute lead.
Cosmos, on their day a match for any South African club, surprisingly reached the semi-finals when they previously appeared in the competition four years ago and have at least an even chance of eliminating Dynamos. Coach Jomo Sono, who also owns a club where the emphasis tilts heavily towards youth, will not know until the last minute whether free-scoring Mozambicans Manuel ”Tico Tico” Bucuane and Nuro Tualibudne are fit to play.
Dynamos, four-time African Champions Cup quarter-finalists, have a mixed away record, losing 1-0 to Sigara of Tanzania in the preliminary round and defeating Bata Bullets of Malawi by the same score in the first-round proper.
While this tie could swing either way, Orlando Pirates will have only themselves to blame should they fail to overcome CAPS United and reach the lucrative mini-league phase of the Champions League. CAPS slammed five goals past Ugandan outfit Express at home in the initial round, making Pirates’ 2-1 victory at the National Stadium in the Zimbabwean capital all the more creditable.
The victory may have had an element of luck with national player Dumisani Mpofu diverting a Dumisa Ngobe shot into this own net after Stewart Murisa had given CAPS an early lead and Gerald Stober levelled, but the visitors deserved to succeed.
Pirates spent much of the match under pressure, but the experience gained from numerous African battles since the epic, title-winning campaign of 1995 stood the Buccaneers in good stead.
Managing director Irvin Khoza believes his players have benefited enormously from their African adventures, notwithstanding the poor treatment they received in Nigeria before a cup tie against BCC Lions.
While Pirates are in action at FNB Stadium on Sunday afternoon, arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs seek a victory over Michau Warriors at Johannesburg Stadium that will resuscitate a faltering championship challenge.
When the history of the first Castle Premiership is examined, last weekend may be viewed as the defining moment, more specifically the late goal Jerry Sikhosana scored to earn Pirates a draw with Chiefs in the Soweto derby.
Those sporting black and white and black and gold later agreed that only pacesetters Rangers gained from a share of the spoils and the Durban club need seven points from a possible 12 to clinch the R500 000 first prize.
While relegation-haunted Warriors should offer dogged resistance to Chiefs, even in their own lair, Rangers travel north to Pietersburg for a showdown with lowly and unpredictable Real Rovers.
The Gladiators of the North have rarely lived up to their nickname this season, although a three-goal hiding dished out to Pirates was a reminder of what George Mathiba, Joel Seroba and Alex Bapela can do when on song.
Counting the crowd may not prove too difficult when Witbank Aces host Wits University at Rand Stadium on Saturday, where the kickoff is 11am to accommodate those wishing to marvel at the skills of Juninho and Zola in the FA Cup final.
Only a victory can keep alive Aces’ wafer- thin hopes of avoiding demotion to the United Bank First Division and resurgent Wits are unlikely to be accommodating, especially with coach Eddie Lewis barking from the sideline. Witbank, a formidable force 10 years ago, were the victims of their own fans last weekend after losing at home to Amazulu, with various objects being hurled at coach Steve Haupt and his players.
A sad end to a sad season for the Coal City Giants. Warriors remain favourites to join them in the lower division although Amazulu and Rovers are too close to the trapdoor for comfort.