Three key battles

Maswanganyi v Mthethwa

For the fifth time in just over a year, these two players will come into direct competition. After two clashes when Patrick Maswanganyi was at SuperSport United, they’ve met twice this season already. In the league meeting in round one, Mthethwa’s Stellenbosch FC came on top, before the Buccaneers won 2-1 in an MTN8 semi-final first leg clash. “Tito”, as Maswanganyi is fondly known, certainly won that particular clash with two assists from crosses in wider areas.

The duo missed out on another meeting when “Ox”, as Mthethwa is affectionately referred to in football circles, missed the MTN8 semi-final second leg as his move to Kaizer Chiefs was imminent. The latter was suspended for the Spurs clash and got a chance to put his feet up and fully focus on stopping Pirates’ interplay between the lines. Maswanganyi has Thembinkosi Lorch back from injury to link up with, and crucially, interchange positions with. It will be very difficult for Mthethwa to deal with interchanging of positions from Bucs’ front players. The curious thing is that Maswanganyi was used deeper alongside Miguel Timm against Richards Bay FC in the team’s 4-4-2 formation. It is surely unthinkable to consider using him in that role against a team like the Glamour Boys.

Dolly v Hotto

Down the flank, we could see a very interesting game of cat and mouse between Deon Hotto and Keagan Dolly. With both Innocent Maela and Paseka Mako missing out through injury in recent weeks, the Namibian has been deputizing at left back. We saw him play that role last season, including in the Nedbank Cup semifinal against Chiefs as a substitute. His advanced positioning on that day led partly to Amakhosi’s equaliser and he is definitely going to bomb forward constantly on Saturday.

In fact, Melusi Buthelezi and the centre-backs aimed long diagonal kicks onto Hotto’s head against the Natal Rich Boyz and he was good at flicking the ball on. With his ability to overlap at pace and deliver crosses, Dolly will have his work cut out to track those forays considering his own lack of match fitness after so many months on the sidelines. Conversely, the playmaker will come inside into pockets of space where Hotto will not be comfortable venturing. Few players can deliver in-swinging crosses like Dolly and if the Namibian doesn’t track him, it could allow Chiefs to overload midfield and to drag a centre-back out of the back four.

Castillo v Timm

With Mthethwa suspended in midweek, we may see Edson Castillo a little deeper alongside Yusuf Maart on Wednesday night after this Soccer Laduma edition goes to print. When Ox returns at FNB Stadium, the Venezuelan may revert to a number eight role. With no natural number 10 in a 4-3-3 midfield of Mthethwa, Maart and Castillo, the latter may be tasked with pressing Miguel Timm.

The latter has shaken off his earlyseason injury problems and will dictate affairs if Amakhosi don’t actively close him down. In fact, Richards Bay got some joy by manmarking him during the build-up phase and forcing risky passes from Tapelo Xoki into Hotto or Maswanganyi.

Aside from the slightly curious sight of Castillo possibly pushing very high to close down Timm, he may also see an opportunity to burst forward untracked. Against Spurs, Jarrod Moroole made an untracked run from deep and made it 2-0 for the Ikamvabased side. One league game earlier, it was Given Mashikinya firing home a shot from the edge of the box. Both of those type of goals are right up Castillo’s alley and he is due a goal after going three games without threatening much.