Having ended their six lean years in triumphant fashion by annexing the Premier Soccer League (PSL) championship for the past two seasons, Mamelodi Sundowns will be pursuing a prized double by adding the PSL’s major knock-out cup to their trophy cabinet when they face Silver Stars in an Absa Cup semifinal at Olen Park in Potchefstroom on Wednesday night.
Sundowns indeed were the last club to have performed this redoubtable success in 1998 — although they have not won a major knock-out competition since 1999 — and up until a couple of weeks ago would have been rated odds-on favourites to repeat the feat by any self-respecting bookmaker.
While remaining Absa Cup favourites, a measure of nagging doubt has crept into the Brazilians’ make-up after three successive defeats in the CAF Champions League crunch game against Egypt’s Al-Ahly and the self-same Silver Stars and Ajax Cape Town in the Premier League.
Of course there are mitigating circumstances for these setbacks, as Sundowns coach Gordon Igesund will be quick to inform anyone who might be listening, particularly regarding the two PSL setbacks.
The Sundowns coach rested many of his most influential players for these games, while the Brazilians’ first choice romped through 18 games without defeat, an opportunity to display their wares.
Now, says Igesund, it will be ”back to business” and it’s a believable assumption — yet turning form on and off is not so simple.
What is more, Silver Stars, the modestly assembled but scintillating surprise contenders of the PSL season, are no pushovers. Having already tasted success in the Telkom Knockout Cup, they will be looking for a notable double of their own from what has already been a memorable season.
But they could find Sundowns at full strength too much to conquer, particularly if wily Venezuelan international striker Jose Torrealba reports fit, as the club was confidently expecting on Tuesday.
The PSL has an illogical compulsion to take major cup ties to curious venues, and Potchefstroom’s Olen Park for this semifinal is no exception. The limited seating at the stadium is likely to be filled to capacity in a town starved of major soccer matches, but the pitch is principally used for rugby and often falls below the basic requirements for soccer.
Hopefully, this shortcoming will not affect which team qualifies for the final against either Santos or Ajax Cape Town. — Sapa