Downs take aim at the Clever Boys
Vilakazi believes his side will prevail in final
SIBUSISO Vilakazi knows exactly how hungry Bidvest Wits are for a trophy. Almost certainly Mamelodi Sundowns’ new midfield star – the high-profile signing of the PSL off-season‚ to Downs from Wits – knows better than anyone at his new club just how much the Clever Boys would covet lifting the MTN8’s flashy sculpted silverware in Nelspruit on Saturday.
Sundowns were Premier League champions last season‚ and Wits runners-up. They are the two best teams in the country and made the best signings of the off-season.
And they have the most settled squads and technical staff combinations‚ and perhaps the two most accomplished‚ trophy-hungry current coaches with the best winning records and mentalities in Downs’ Pitso Mosimane and Wits’ Gavin Hunt.
Before the season even started these were tipped as 2016-17’s two best teams.
“Up to this point you can see that both teams have been able to assemble good squads. Squads that will be challenging for everything they play in‚” Bafana Bafana playmaker Vilakazi said.
“They are two teams capable of doing that with the players that they have. So it’s a matter of who wants it the most that will decide the best team.
“The best team will be recognised by the trophies – that’s when you can claim the word: ‘best’. And we want to be that.” To claim that word ‘best’ over the course of the season‚ Sundowns or Wits are likely to have to win the Premier League. Downs can claim that title continentally by winning the Caf Champions League final against Egyptian giants Zamalek in mid-October.
Domestically‚ Sundowns or Wits can land an early blow for dominance in the MTN8.
Downs’ spectacular winning mentality they have displayed plowing through the league plus simultaneous domestic and continental semifinals in the past month looks unbreakable.
But Wits’ determination to end a trophy drought that goes back to the 2010 Nedbank Cup‚ and reverse Hunt’s three “nearlymen” seasons at the club without silverware‚ has looked equally formidable.
The clash of these to immovable wills seems sure to make for a fierce cup final in Nelspruit.
“It’s quite interesting. Because Wits are up there as well‚” Vilakazi said.
“I wouldn’t say they are not far from us‚ but I can say they’re not far from achieving what they want to. They have the players to do it.
“So that’s why it’s a matter of hunger between us and them. Who wants it the most? That will be determined on Saturday.
“For us it’s about taking one competition at a time. For now it’s the MTN8 that we want.”
In league meetings in the past two seasons‚ in 2015-16 Wits lost 1-0 at home and 4-2 away‚ while in 2014-15 the Clever Boys won 10 at home and drew 0-0 away. — TMG Sport