Andrew Muchineripi Soccer
The curtain finally comes down on a seemingly endless South African soccer season
this Sunday when Orlando Pirates and Sundowns contest the Bob Save Super Bowl
final.
Pirates have played 52 domestic and African matches since last July and Sundowns 51, so do not be surprised if some players look a little the worse for wear come the final whistle.
For Pirates the match represents a last opportunity to collect a trophy after losing on the away-goal rule to Sundowns in the Rothmans Cup semi-finals and finishing third behind Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs in the Castle Premiership.
Apart from topping the national championship standings, Sundowns lost to Chiefs in the inaugural Rothmans Cup final, following a replay settled by a penalty shootout.
Sundowns and Pirates have met four times this season with the “Brazilians” winning the first encounter 2-1 last August and the other three finishing in 2-2, 0-0 and 1-1 draws.
While it would take a brave neutral to nominate who will collect the R750E000 winners cheque, another close contest seems likely with a moment of magic or madness determining the outcome.
Watching Sundowns draw 0-0 with Zambian visitors Nkana FC in the African Cup Winners Cup last Sunday, one was struck by the importance of Nigerian bulldozer
Raphael Chukwu to the side.
Sundowns battled without their injured leading scorer and once young Zambian goalkeeper Emmanuel Mschili blocked early half chances offered to Alex Bapela and Kenny Niemach, the fizz largely disappeared from the attack.
The giant striker may not have made the Super Eagles World Cup squad, but anyone
doubting his ability should speak to Wits University or QwaQwa Stars defenders.
He scored four goals against each club and proved a man for the big occasion by
snatching late equalisers against Chiefs in the Rothmans Cup final and the replay.
Chukwu, a strong contender for the South African Footballer of the Year award to be announced next Tuesday, was also on target against Pirates in the Rothmans Cup – so they know what to expect.
Apart from Chukwu and Bapela, World Cup hopeful Niemach, captain Daniel Mudau and Randall Borman have been the main sources of goals for a side whose adventurous,
passing game does not attract the audiences it deserves. Alex Shakoane, the public
relations officer of Sundowns and a man capable of selling fridges to Icelanders, waxes lyrical at weekly Premier Soccer League media conferences about the “carpet football”
his team produce.
By this he means a game plan based on possession being 100%of the law with the ball retained, even if it means going backwards until a chink appears in the enemy armoury.
In a country where five consecutive accurate passes is the exception rather than the rule, Sundowns stand out and coach Ted Dumitru clearly spends more time than most
of his counterparts working on the skill.
Traditional cup fighters Pirates are a match for any team when on song and their
Premiership loss to Jomo Cosmos last weekend was the first in 18 league and cup
matches.
After a shaky start, former Nigerian national coach Shaibu Amodu has proved an asset to the Buccaneers and his partnership with Zambian assistant Ronald Mkhandawire ranks
among the most harmonious in South Africa.
What they – and the players led by tireless midfield toiler John Moeti – desperately
need is some silverware so they can share the 1997-1998 season honours with Chiefs
and Sundowns.
Potential matchwinners include recalled Bafana Bafana squad member Jerry Sikhosana,
super sub Andries Sebola and Dumisa Ngobe, a shock omission from the 28-man World
Cup list released by Philippe Troussier.
After being a largely anonymous figure for most of the season, Sikhosana has struck a rich vein of form and a good performance in front of Troussier at FNB Stadium could clinch a passport to France.
Another player with a lot to play for will be Pirates attacking fullback Gerald Raphahlela, a late inclusion in the provisional national squad after being overlooked for three local camps.
With a shortage of players capable of filling fullback and wingback roles, it could boil down to a straight fight between Raphahlela and Themba Mnguni, who will be in action for Sundowns.
The final also offers Ngobe a chance to prove Troussier wrong.
A utility player who can operate in defence and midfield and score spectacular goals, his axing was labelled a national disgrace by one weekend newspaper.
Former Real Rovers stricker Sebola appears to be most dangerous when brought on during the second half of the game and it was his last-gasp goal against Jomo Cosmos that settled the previous Bob Save Super Bowl final.