Explosive MTN8 semis in the offing
THE MTN8 semi-final clash between Mamelodi Sundowns and Chippa United could turn out to be the match of the tournament.
The duel, played over two legs, pits two teams playing the best football in the PSL at the moment.
Equally, on the bench two of local football’s astute brains will be out to outdo each other. Sundowns’ Pitso Mosimane and Chippa’s Dan Malesela are among the best coaches the country has produced.
While in Mosimane’s case there’s overwhelming evidence that he is one of the best coaches on the local scene with a plethora of accolades to his name, it may be difficult to justify Malesela’s billing as a top coach. However, if the purity of football is to be taken into consideration, then there’s no iota of doubt that Malesela is one of the best. Malesela has, in a very short space of time, transformed Chippa into a formidable side in the PSL.
Prior to his arrival, Chippa were relegation candidates but the former Orlando Pirates and Sundowns captain has since elevated them into a top eight team. Last season Chippa, who play enterprising and attacking football characterised by flair, skill and crisp passing, put on solid performances humbling big teams such as Pirates, Chiefs and Platinum Stars.
Even before the start of the season, Mosimane identified Malesela’s team as this season’s dark horses and the signs are there already.
“Chippa will be a very big surprise this year. They have kept the coach and they have kept the players. They had a lot of wins last season. There is a lot of calmness about them in terms of the coach and the management, I see them doing very well in my opinion. Dan believes in total football. I don’t know if he has the right personnel to play that kind of football. You want to play like Barcelona but Enrique has Messi, Neymar and Iniesta.”
So far Malesela has Thami Sangweni, Thembikosi Lorch, Rhulani Manzini, Menzi Masuku, Vuyani Sali, Marc van Heerden and others doing the job for him. They eliminated Stars to make the semi-finals of the MTN8 with relative ease. When Sundowns visit them at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Sunday afternoon, it will be a clash of high tempo football, propelled by individual brilliance, against calm, cool and collected football instigated by the collective.
Sundowns have not lost to Chippa since the latter’s promotion to the PSL and this might be a source of motivation for both teams on the day. With Mosimane and Malesela, former teammates at Sundowns, manning the bench, expect explosives.
The evening before would have seen Wits take on Cape Town City FC at Bidvest Stadium. It’s also a big game for Wits coach Gavin Hunt, who is in his fourth season with Wits. Since his arrival Wits, despite spending a fortune in transfers, have not won a single trophy. Hunt is under enormous pressure to win something.
With just three rounds of matches to play, the MTN8 is one of the easiest tournaments to win. Hunt has assembled a team that has what it takes to can lay their hands on the trophy.
His Cape Town City counterpart Eric Tinkler, a great footballer in his day, has also sustained several bruises as a coach. He will want to redeem himself by leading his side to glory.
On paper Wits should have no qualms negotiating their way to the final. However, since football is unpredictable, all teams will have to knuckle down for victory.
That the semi-finals are played over two legs gives an opportunity for teams to work on various strategies in terms of tactics. Wits v Cape Town City, 8.15pm Chippa Utd v Mamelodi Sundowns, 3pm