If a South African ”footballer of the year” for the 2006/07 season had to be nominated now, it would not need a soothsayer to predict that the choice would be Godfrey Sapula.
And on Saturday night at a seething Loftus, the dynamic 33-year-old midfielder demonstrated exactly why this accolade is almost certainly heading his way with a 44th minute goal of majesty and clinical composure to pave the way for Mamelodi Sundowns’ 2-0 victory over SuperSport United.
An intuitive exchange of passes with classy Surprise Moriri culminated in Sapula guiding the ball into the roof of the net with an element of nonchalant poise as he continued the revival of his career.
Sundowns’ second goal from late substitute Dillon Sheppard — which took them a step nearer to the retention of the PSL championship — was almost inconsequential in the circumstances, materialising as it did in an extended 95th minute of play as SuperSport threw everything but the kitchen sink into a desperate bid to secure an equaliser.
This was the talented Sheppard’s first appearance in the Premier League in six months due to a leg injury and ensured Sundowns extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to 16 games — 15 of which have ended in victories.
But, for all this, the win against their bitter rivals was hard-earned, with the M-Net owned team well on top for most of the second period when the normally assured Katlego Mphela and Daine Klate missed the three easiest scoring opportunities of the game.
And, on two other occasions, Brian Baloyi, deputising for Calvin Marlin, was caught on the wrong foot and came close to conceding an equaliser, while the usually tightly-knit Sundowns’ defence suddenly developed huge gaps and appeared decidedly vulnerable.
Over the entire 90 minutes, however, Sundowns deserved their success and in the context of the PSL continued to confirm Tina Turner’s sentiment that they are ”simply the best”.
Cosmos see stars
The Jomo Cosmos’ constellation of fading footballers will be having nightmares about seeing Silver Stars after a third successive defeat against the recent Telkom Knockout Cup winners at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenburg on Saturday afternoon.
What is more, the final 3-1 scoreline flattered Jomo Sono’s team, if anything, with Cosmos only scoring a consolation goal in the 90th minute from Dikgang ”The Terminator” Mabelane.
Stars’ coordinated, disciplined display was only marred by the news that Joel Lupahla had broken his leg in two places after being brought down in the ninth minute by a crude, two-footed tackle by Cosmos goalkeeper Abisai Shiningayamwe.
Play in the relatively empty, ghostly stadium, which has been earmarked as a 2010 World Cup venue and holds more than 40 000 spectators, was held up for eight minutes while Lupahla received medical attention — before an ambulance arrived on the pitch to take the player to hospital.
Cosmos’ woes were intensified by the 58th minute sending off of the combative Sydney Plaatjies, who elbowed an opponent for no apparent reason in an off-the-ball incident.
Stars were leading 1-0 at the time through a lethal 27th minute ground shot from Dale Studzinski and proceeded to cruise home against the increasingly lacklustre, 10-man opposition.
Cosmos’ defence appeared lethargic and dispirited as Dingane Masanabo (63rd minute) and Koketso Mmotong (76th minute) demonstrated a fine sense of enterprise while outwitting Shiningayamwe, with the Cosmos’ goalkeeper hopelessly out-of-position for Stars’ second and third goals.
Stars, who earlier in the season headed the PSL log for a lengthy period before going through an apparent reaction to winning the Telkom competition, leapfrogged back into a challenging position for the runners-up spot in the log after their morale-boosting return to form.
And had thunderous shots from a Willem Jackson free-kick in the 22nd minute and Mmotong in the 29th minute not thudded against the woodwork, their victory would have been more emphatic. – Sapa