Kaizer Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral could have made the wisest move of the season when he opted to return to Johannesburg from a rain soaked Durban on Sunday to start preparing for Tuesday’s night’s MTN 8 cup-final showdown against arch rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.
Both clubs had planned to stay in Durban after rain over the weekend forced the Premier Soccer League to postpone the game — originally scheduled for Saturday night.
The pitch was waterlogged and the organisers had no option but to call off the match and reschedule it for Tuesday night. The weather in Durban has been cold but the rain has started clearing and the PSL are still excited about attracting a capacity crowd.
The fact that Wednesday is a public holiday has the PSL hopeful of a sell-out crowd.
While Sundowns stayed in Durban to prepare for the R8-million winner-takes-all final, Ertugral decided it was better to go home and start preparing again on Monday.
”I was pleased when my chairman [Kaizer Motaung] and club management supported me as I felt it better for the players to come home and having a fresh start on Monday. We will train at Naturena before flying back to Durban on Monday afternoon. It affords the players the chance of sleeping at home and returning mentally and physically fit for the cup final.”
Ertugral said he was concerned that by staying in Durban, the players would lose concentration. ”I felt that due to the importance of the game it was better to give the players a break and keep their concentration levels as high as possible.”
The Amakhosi coach said he would not be changing tactics but would be discussing the game with his captain, Jimmy Tau.
Meanwhile, the Brazilians’ spokesperson Mahtlatse Mphahlele said his coach Trott Moloto and technical team were happy to prepare in Durban. He said the players were in high spirits.
”We were all disappointed at the final being postponed but that decision was out of our hands. We will be glad when it comes kick-off time on Tuesday. The players are all looking forward to the final. We are ready,” said Mphahlele.
The Brazilians are the odds-on favourites after Moloto and owner Patrice Motsepe brought in 12 new players in the off-season to strengthen the team.
A couple of those big name signings are set to shine. Veteran Sibusiso Zuma — reputed to be the highest paid player in the PSL — will be keen to show why Motsepe rates the Bafana Bafana star so highly.
Zuma’s return to the PSL after a successful career in Denmark with FC Copenhagen and in the Bundesliga with Arminia Bielefeld, started on a sour note when the versatile Zuma was red carded in injury time of
their MTN semifinal against SuperSport United last month.
Zuma is likely to be supported by Surprise Moriri and another newcomer, Benedict Vilakazi, who is still finding his feet after a disappointing season in Denmark with Aalborg.
Vilakazi will be hoping to recapture the form that made him a hero at Orlando Pirates before his stint in Denmark. Vilakazi is also trying to regain his place in Bafana and the cup final would be a perfect platform to re-launch his career.
The key for Chiefs will be striker Jose Torrealba, who returns after a two match suspension to lead an attack that has been found wanting in the previous two league defeats against Thanda Royal Zulu and PSL
rookies Maritzburg United.
Torrealba left Downs under a cloud last year and this will be the first time he has played against his former teammates and can expect plenty of close attention.
But for Chiefs and Torrealba to succeed, both supporting acts in the form of speedy, skilful left wing Siphiwe Tshabalala and midfield talent Gert Schalkwyk need to fire in the ammunition and feed
the Venezuelan goal predator.
On form and with incredible depth, Downs should win but Chiefs have the greater experience. – Sapa