SOCCER
Ngwako Madjadji
High-riding Kaizer Chiefs are expected to continue their clean sweep of trophies when they grapple with Inter Luanda in Angola in the first leg of the final of the African Cup Winners’ Cup, also known as the Mandela Cup, this weekend.
Muhsin Ertugral’s side trekked to Angola with just a 16-man squad instead of the 18 players allowed in the cup rules.
Chiefs will be without defender Nhlanhla Kubheka, who accumulated two yellow cards, but Gary Goldstone will replace him.
Amakhosi made history when they became the first club to beat Club Africain in Tunisia in the cup. They are also the first South African side to get past Egyptian opposition in club competition, having beaten Ismailia over two legs in the quarterfinals.
Chiefs have also became the first South African team to reach the Cup Winners’ Cup finals.
South African teams previously participated in this tournament, although Lady Luck was not on their side. In 1997 Jomo Cosmos reached the quarterfinals, while in 1998 Sundowns were booted out in the second round. Last year Supersport also lost in the second round.
Inter Luanda are also making their first appearance in the cup but they have proved they are no pushovers. On the way to the final the Angolans have beaten Nigerian and Cameroonian opposition.
Chiefs will be without Doctor Khumalo, who was involved in a car accident last week.
Before their departure this week Chiefs signed a joint venture with Hollard Insurance to create Kaizer Chiefs Financial Services. The company will have a funeral plan, a personal accident plan and an education plan available to the club’s supporters. Khumalo, assistant coach Ace Khuse and Nhlanhla Khubeka will head the funeral, personal accident and education plans respectively.
Although there is no prize money Chiefs are determined to win the cup for former president Nelson Mandela.
Chiefs have a busy schedule ahead. A week later they play in the Coca-Cola Cup final against Jomo Cosmos and on December 1 Amakhosi face Inter Luanda in the return leg of the Mandela Cup.
On Sunday afternoon Sundowns will take a 2-0 lead into the second leg of their African Champions League semifinal against Petro Atletico in Luanda.