Comitis delighted as cup final comes to Cape Town

He described it as “great news”. But Cape Town City boss John Comitis says he is not concentrating yet on playing in an historic Nedbank Cup final in Cape Town.

And little wonder. After the quarterfinal draw was made earlier in the week and the Premier Soccer League came up with the decision to stage the final in the Mother City, the last-16 conquerors of Orlando Pirates were confronted with a daunting task against Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.

Despite City being drawn at home against the Brazilians, Comitis reasoned it would be premature, to say the least, of reaching the final with a team of Sundowns’ stature, among others, standing in the way.

“But whether we are there or not,” argued the Cape Town City owner, “staging the final at the Cape Town Stadium will be a significant and timely boost for football in the area, with interest here mounting”.

Also, as an incentive for Cape Town City and the other Cape side in the Nedbank quarterfinals, NFD club Ubuntu Cape Town FC, is the fact that no Cape Town club has won the Nedbank Cup since Nedbank took over the sponsorship of the tradition-steeped tournament a decade ago.

The roots of the competition based on the English FA Cup in which the minnows challenge the mighty extend back 47 years to 1971, with Kaizer Chiefs having won the event a record 13 times, followed by Orlando Pirates (eight), Moroka Swallows and SuperSport United (five) and Sundowns (four).

Santos are Cape Town’s most successful club with two victories, with Ajax Cape Town and Cape Town Spurs boasting one win apiece.