View from the sticks

With a number of flashy Soweto Derby debuts expected on Saturday, the decision about who to place in goal is not an automatic one for either coach.

With Brilliant Khuzwayo back to full fitness, Orlando Pirates coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevi has four (four!) keepers he could realistically choose from.

Having been relegated to the MultiChoice Diski Challenge side of late, it’s unlikely Wayne Sandilands will get the signal but solid arguments could be made for any of the others. Jackson Mabokgwane is the favourite after starting the last two games but Micho is unlikely to have forgotten that Siyabonga Mpontshane was instrumental in the last derby, securing a 3-1 victory for Bucs.

Khuzwayo is the wild card of the foursome. He decided to swap Amakhosi for a black-and-white jersey after failing to dethrone Itumeleng Khune and will greedily be craving an outing to prove his worth. The hopeful looked determined and formidable in training earlier this week, towering over his teammates during the side’s two-touch-and shoot exercises. The derby often yearns for a gamble and Micho might decide it starts with him.

At the opposite end of the field, Khune himself spoke of being desperate for a win on Wednesday after not savouring victory in the fixture since 2014.

“It’s not nice that it’s been four years without a win over our rivals,” he said.

“But Saturday is going to be a different ballgame, and we have to turn it around and go for a victory.

“It’s a big one, special one, exciting one. Already when I was in the Bafana camp, people were already talking about the derby.”

Although Khune is likely to make his

26th appearance against Pirates, trailing only Siphiwe Tshabalala with 31, coach Giovanni Solinas could throw a surprise at Micho and choose Virgil Vries instead. The new signing impressed in the Knockout at the weekend, knocking Black Leopards out of the last 16 after two excellent saves in the shootout.

On top of his good keeper problem, the Italian is sweating on last-minute fitness calls for stars Khama Billiat and Leonardo Castro. Lebogang Manyama is out for over a month after being involved in a car accident. —