NAWAAL DEANE, Johannesburg | Friday 12.30pm.
SOCCER City will set the stage for a thrill-a-minute showdown between arch-rivals Sundowns and Chiefs in the BobSave Super Bowl final on Saturday.
The berths for the final were decided following Chiefs’ 3-1 drubbing of Bush Bucks, while Sundowns went through with a 1-0 clincher against AmaZulu.
Tradional pre-match tensions are running high with Sundowns, on paper at least, being seen as far better material than Chiefs, who are in the process of rebuilding a side that will lead them to bigger things.
Chiefs won the the Superbowl in 1992 but the Amakhosi saw their chances slip when they lost in the final against Supersport United last year, while Sundowns won it in the 97-98 season. The Pretoria-based “Brazilians” are however heading for a historical treble after having scooped the Rothmans Cup and Premier League this season.
“Maybe some of our supporters are a little blas and over-confident after all the success we have enjoyed this season,” said Paul Dolezar, Sundowns coach.
“But it is not the supporters who will be playing against Chiefs, but the players – and they are fully aware of the dangers of taking anything for granted.”
Even though Chiefs have had a dissappointing season, their supporters are still optimistic that they can snap up the silverware ahead of the all-conquering Sundowns.
Both teams are well balanced, and predicting a winner will be tough.
Pirates Coach, Gordon Igesund, however believes that “Sundowns are the best team at the moment but a Cup final is a different game altogether. If I had to bet, I’d put my money on a draw and a reply.”