Solinas shows derby nerves, but aces it
Micho also had eye on big game
Nothing could have illustrated the importance of Saturday’s Soweto derby to Giovanni Solinas and Milutin Sredojevic as their team selection for the past weekend’s Telkom Knockout first round clashes. In particular Solinas, who will aim to guide Chiefs to their first Absa Premiership derby win over their rivals since 2015, was so blatant in his desire to clinch the sold-out affair that he made wholesale changes in yesterday’s cup match against Black Leopards. As a result, Chiefs required penalties to win and, given that they played a day later than Pirates, there might be some heavy legs at FNB Stadium this weekend.
Perhaps the genius in Solinas knew this, hence he altered his team almost completely from their last outing, with Itumeleng Khune watching from the bench, and Khama Billiat, Daniel Cardoso and Siyabonga Ngezana not even making the team sheet. It speaks of Chiefs’ desperation to halt a winless streak – dating back to the days when Stuart Baxter was their head coach – in the epic tie. Pirates had little problems disposing of Chippa United in the allotted 90 minutes. Vincent Pule netted the winner at Orlando Stadium on Saturday. That coach Sredojevic had Pule coming in only at halftime was an indication that the key man was also not to be risked, having been recalled from a Bafana camp injured the previous week.
Xola Mlambo, whose cross set up Pule’s goal after breaching Chippa’s defence, was withdrawn with 20 minutes to go, supposedly to give him a bit of a rest too ahead of Saturday.
Predictably, Sredojevic felt Pirates did not play to their rhythm at Orlando Stadium. “We have so many things that need to be corrected,” he said after their 1-0 victory.
He said Augustine Mulenga, whom Pule replaced, had fallen sick and had to be withdrawn. This may have been to have the Zambian fully fit for Saturday.