FINAL
With Colombian hitman Leonardo Castro some distance from a full recovery after picking up an ankle injury several weeks ago, coach Pitso Mosimane has found the going tough on the domestic front. As previously mentioned in our midfielders analysis, the Brazilians have been able to rely on Percy Tau and Anthony Laffor to chip in with crucial goals, but that has been in their CAF Champions League pursuit. Sundowns have only managed four goals in their four games in all South African competitions, quite below par for a team able to score from anywhere on the pitch as they clinched the league last season.
But this shouldn’t suggest Mosimane will not be able to figure out a way to get his men to translate their continental matches form into the MTN8 final. And he has the players to do it in Billiat, Vilakazi and even new boy Zakri, who was signed from ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast before the transfer window shut last month. more prolific goal scorers from last season still out nursing an injury in James Keene. But coach Gavin Hunt made sure he wouldn’t miss him too much having recruited a completely new front line during the off-season to counter Keene’s absence as well as that of exciting winger-cum-striker, Phakamani Mahlambi. Wits, who do not yet have to juggle the domestic league and continental commitments, have played six matches in all competitions and managed nine goals. Rodgers, Mhango and Malajila have all opened their accounts and are growing in confidence ahead of the final.
Sundowns haven’t really been leaking goals, meaning these Wits strikers will have to double their efforts to get in behind them. Rodgers and Mhango are almost certain to start, with Malajila being a very decent alternative later in the match against his former club. But Hunt might also decide to pick all three and go all out in an attempt to finally bring silverware to the club for the first time in his four years at the helm. Whichever way he goes, Hunt has a solid team backed by gifted midfielders to give the strikers good service.