It’s hardly surprising when you consider the participants in the final: the Vodacom Challenge showdown between long-standing antagonists Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will be watched by a sell-out crowd of approximately 50 000 on Sunday.
And while the Chiefs’ website on Tuesday advised those not in possession of tickets not to turn up at Durban’s King’s Park Stadium, the Buccaneers were pondering allowing on the field their four Bafana Bafana players who recently took part in the Concacaf Gold Cup tournament in the United States.
Lucas Thwala, Lucky Lekgwathi, Thabang Radebe and Gift Leremi will only return to South Africa on Friday after a lengthy journey from Houston that will take them through New York and London and a succession of international datelines along the way.
Pirates’ general manager, Phil ”Mr Jones” Setshedi, said a final decision on whether the players are suitably conditioned for the testing ordeal against Chiefs will only be taken after they arrive in South Africa.
”It’s a tough trip to make,” added Setshedi, ”and we don’t want to rush any of the players into action if they are not in proper shape. The team performed well while beating Green Buffaloes in the semifinal at Mmabatho Stadium on Sunday and we will just have to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of making changes.”
”We could have packed in another 5 000 into King’s Park,” said an official, ”but we took into account the security factor and limited the number of tickets sold.” — Sapa