Interesting semi duels await
EXTRA STRONG
got our prediction for the Mamelodi Sundowns v SuperSport United game spot on, but came short on the other matches as the more fancied teams came unstuck. The draw for the MTN8 two-legged semi-finals served up some interesting duels with intriguing sub-plots. Dan Malesela will come up against his former team Mamelodi Sundowns when Chippa United take on the Brazilians. And Gavin Hunt will try to break the hoodoo of struggling to win matches in the Mother City, when Bidvest Wits take on Cape Town City.
Here, reviews the weekend’s MTN 8 quarter-final matches and looks ahead to the semis.
NJABULO NGIDI
M SIM 7 Prediction: Amakhosi went to the Mother City after a bad start to the season when they lost to Bidvest Wits in Milpark for the first time in more than a decade. That result highlighted Chiefs’ biggest problem from last season, they have been stripped of their aura of invincibility. Every team that comes up against them, fancies their chances of adding to their woes.
The new side from Cape Town did that by knocking out last year’s finalists. They did so through team work, defending as a unit and hitting Chiefs on the counter. If it wasn’t for Itumeleng Khune, the scoreline could have been worse. Amakhosi lacked imagination, the closest Chiefs’ had to a creative spark was Pule Ekstein, who couldn’t light up a petrol station. R MANZINI 9, M MASUKU 79 Prediction: The Chilli Boys made Dikwena chase shadows in their own backyard. Their performance showed just why the PE side are the dark horses in the Absa Premiership race. Finishing in the top eight was already an achievement for them, having done so for the first time in the club’s history. But they didn’t stop there. They comfortably booked a place in the last four.
They made a Dikwena side, that’s tough to break down in Phokeng, look ordinary. The Chilli Boys made a mockery of the fact that they’re a team in the rebuilding phase after they lost their spine when Xola Mlambo, Eric Chipeta, Walter Maponyane and Nkosinathi Mthiyane left for greener pastures. B MKHWANAZI 38 T HLATSHWAYO 75 Prediction: The Clever Boys beat both the Soweto giants – Kaizer Chiefs and the Buccaneers – in the space of four days. While they outclassed Amakhosi, Wits were tactically superior to Pirates. They bombarded the side with set-pieces where their tall centrebacks, Thulani Hlatshwayo and Buhle O MANYISA PEN 16 Mkhwanazi, are a threat. The pair ended up on the scoresheet, towering over Pirates’ defenders. But they also benefitted from the slippery hands of Felipe Ovono. These were “easy” games because the Clever Boys had nothing to lose. What will test them is how they play in matches where they’re favourites, starting against Cape Town City. Inconsistency, losing games that they shouldn’t, is what hurt Wits last season even though they pushed Sundowns to the end. If they’re to capture silverware, they’ll need to change that. W ARENDSE 18 S VILAKAZI 74 K BILLIAT 80 Prediction: K NKHATHA 45 From mind games – in the fight for who will sit on the bench on the right – to a brawl on the field and four goals, this match had all the ingredients of an entertaining derby. The Brazilians ended up on the winning side like they have been in many of these derbies. This match showed the bruises Sundowns have because of their African sojourn in the CAF Champions League. Leonardo Castro, Tiyani Mabunda and Keagan Dolly didn’t finish the match through injuries. But the club has depth in abundance. Percy Tau, Lucky Mohomi and Sibusiso Vilakazi took over and guided Sundowns over the finish line. Yanick Zakri is likely to take over for the injured Castro.
@NjabuloN