Andrew Muchineripi Soccer
First-round action in the multimillion-rand Rothmans Cup continues this weekend with many of the eight second-leg matches delicately poised.
While realising that there is no such thing as a certainty in cup football, the Muchineripi clan will publicly eat this page of your favourite newspaper should Kaizer Chiefs, Manning Rangers and Orlando Pirates fail to progress.
Chiefs have a two-goal lead and home advantage over QwaQwa Stars, Rangers take a five-goal advantage to Vaal Professionals and Pirates host Bloemfontein Celtic sitting on a three-goal cushion.
The other five encounters are considerably more difficult to predict and the match of the round could well take place at Milpark stadium on Friday evening between Wits University and Moroka Swallows.
Apart from the fact that the tie is balanced on the proverbial knife edge following a 0-0 draw at George Goch stadium two weeks ago, the teams are in debt to the public following a dismal first leg.
It was a tense match between two clubs steeped in tradition, it was an exciting match as supporters eagerly anticipated the goals that never came, and it was not a good advertisement for South African football.
When two passes were strung together life appeared good, when three passes were successfully accomplished life seemed great, when four passes were made it was time to contact The X- Files people.
Good, crisp, short-medium-and long- range passing make a game; unthoughtful, casual, inaccurate passing like that exhibited by the Birds and the Clever Boys ruins a match.
Most local football fans happen to be black and most blacks happen to be living on or extremely close to the breadline.
When R15 is handed over for 90 minutes of entertainment, that is what the masses expect to get. What they received at George Goch was one movement after another breaking down almost before it began; a frantic pursuit by teams who cancelled each other out and created just two chances worthy of the name.
Young Wits striker Gareth Devine, high on pace but low on control, had a first-half header brilliantly turned away by goalkeeper Wendell Robinson and Swallows substitute Alex Monau saw a late header give Roger de Sa palpitations.
In between there was much hustle and bustle and no one in sight who could put his foot on the ball, stamp his authority, slow the pace, create flowing moves and bring smiles to disgruntled faces in the stands and on the terraces.
An injury necessitating the half-time withdrawal of Wits midfielder Gordon Ewen did not help, and for all his skilful trickery on the ball, Jokhonia Cibi from Swallows displayed more style than substance.
I hasten to add that these ills are not unique to Swallows and Wits. Far from it. As we approach week eight of the 1998/99 season I have been largely disenchanted with the fare on view. I dream of better days ahead.
While Europe seems to be moving away from the boringly predictable world of “route one”, far too many South African footballers generally treat the ball like a debt – something to get rid of. Fast!
Accuse me of idealism if you must. Label me old-fashioned, out of touch, eccentric. But I long for an African flavour to my staple football diet. I know there is much more to the beautiful game than hoof and hope.
Pessimism is not a much-used word in the Muchineripi vocabulary, however, and I shall head for the Braamfontein headquarters of Wits on Friday evening (September 11) confident of witnessing much-improved displays from sides capable of quickening the pulses.
Speaking of kick and rush, Wits have come a long way in recent seasons under a coach whose wife presumably keeps a liberal stock of throat lozenges. Eddie Lewis does not suffer fools gladly, be they players, match officials or fans.
A totally committed man whose age will soon permit him free bus travel, he was honest enough to admit that the first meeting left a great deal to be desired. I hope he can sing a different tune come 10pm Friday night.
Wits lost in the league at Manning Rangers last week – their first reverse in seven matches – while Swallows have improved following a shaky start under new Brazilian coach Jayr Emilio Mazzoni.
The former national beach and indoor soccer coach of Canada lost his first two league matches, drew the next two and won the next two. That is progress in any language.
Few clubs leave Milpark, a cosy venue just off the M1 highway, victorious and perhaps the best hope for Swallows is that they force a score draw and win the tie on the away-goal rule.