Andrew Muchineripi: Soccer
Arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates meet for the third time this season at FNB Stadium on Saturday, and after two drawn championship clashes there must be a result in the Bob Save Super Bowl second-round clash.
The luck of the draw brought together at an early stage two teams the public and sponsors would have preferred to meet in the May 16 final that brings the curtain down on the domestic season. Controversy surrounds a match that will go to extra time and penalties if necessary even before a ball has been kicked with SABC opting to show test cricket between South Africa and Sri Lanka instead of the cup tie.
Test cricket from Newlands was broadcast on SABC1 last Saturday while a soccer match between Pirates and Cape Town Spurs went out live on SABC2. Why could there not have been a similar arrangement on Saturday? The result will probably be a sell-out 80 000 crowd at the game and many disgruntled football fans around the country having to wait until Sunday before seeing the Amakhosi and Buccaneers on the small screen.
After years of playing second fiddle to Chiefs, Pirates have had a distinct advantage since the formation of the Premier Soccer League, winning three of the six league and cup showdowns and drawing the others. The victories included a 4-1 Super Bowl semi-final success that emphasised the crucial role former Bafana Bafana striker Jerry “Legs of Thunder” Sikhosana plays in a soccer rivalry to match any around the world. He scored a hat-trick that afternoon and has been responsible for six of the eight goals Pirates struck past Brian Baloyi. There is something about black and gold that inspires Sikhosana as his only goal this season came against Chiefs.
Pirates should enter the match with a distinct psychological advantage as they have often fallen short of their highest standards this season and Chiefs still could not beat them.
Last weekend, Chiefs achieved the more impressive result as they recovered from conceding a 42-second goal in Cape Town to defeat Hellenic 2-1 in the Castle Premiership while Pirates were held 1-1 at home by Spurs. Watching Chiefs comfortably dispose of Wits University in the first round, one was struck by the pace of Thabang Lebese, first as a left-sided midfielder and then as a right-sided striker. This Bafana Bafana candidate has electrifying pace and seems to have struck a rich vein of form with four goals in three matches. His adaptability is also of tremendous value to coach Paul Dolezar.
The Frenchman has already brought the Rothmans Cup to the Naturena headquarters of Chiefs and they appear the only team capable of snatching the Premiership from leaders Sundowns.
Criticise him if you must, and he has had to dodge a fair number of flying objects this season from fans who believe victory is the divine right of the Amakhosi, but the man has tactical acumen. First-half substitutions are rare in South African soccer, but 38 minutes into the match against Wits Dolezar had suffered enough. Something had to be done about Wits offensive midfielder Oscar Mohlolo. Playing in the hole just behind the striker, Mohlolo was threatening havoc, so off came Thembinkosi Biyela,whose wild shooting had been disrupting bird patterns over the Rand Stadium, and on came Humphrey Mlwane.
The impact was soon felt as the tall, broad Mlwane, playing just ahead of the defence, effectively shackled Mohlolo and cut a supply line to Wits strikers Gary McNab and Nicky Shaw.
Dolezar will surely have noted that Pirates threatened Spurs most when Gerald Raphahlela moved forward to combine with Steve Lekoelea down the right flank and their goal stemmed from a pin-point Raphahlela cross. Spurs made life difficult for themselves by employing only David Kannemeyer on the left side and he was permanently occupied containing young livewire Lekoelea, a player tipped for Bafana Bafana stardom in years to come.
Pirates often appeared tired and pedestrian last Saturday and the searing heat did not help. Too many of the team have played too many matches and that is cause for concern given that some will figure in the World Cup. But the sight of the Amakhosi will surely bring out the traditional fighting spirit that makes Pirates such formidable opposition. Chiefs are the form team and marginal favourites, but all bets should be placed with extreme caution.