Get your Makarapas and vuvuzelas, it’s Soweto derby time
JOHANNESBURG: It’s Soweto derby time tomorrow... MAZOLA MOLEFE and NJABULO NGIDI give their tactical analysis of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
CHIEFS Goalkeeper: No-brainer – Itumeleng Khune will be firstchoice to face a less-than frightening Pirates attack. Chiefs are on a five-game winning streak, and Khune has kept a clean sheet throughout. – 9/10. Defenders: Also have to be applauded for the clean sheets, having worked to be compact and close down spaces when their opponents are in possession. Even without Eric Mathoho against Ajax Cape Town, and Ramahlwe Mphahlele against Maritzburg United last week, the preferred back four has held firm. – 8/10. Midfielders: A significant problem area. Steve Komphela has tested different combinations – forced by injuries or suspensions – and Amakhosi still lack a bit of creative spark, though it hasn’t really been an issue given the results. Should Pirates overpower them in midfield, Komphela will have to address it quickly. – 7/10. Strikers: Komphela seems to prefer a lone striker which makes it difficult to praise the forwards, because the goals aren’t necessarily coming from them. However, their job is to score goals and there is no time like the derby to announce yourself; ask Lewis Macha, who scored in the Carling Black Label Cup in July. – 5/10. Coach: Komphela is the favourite to win tomorrow with Chiefs clearly on a high and could possibly still be top of the PSL table if Golden Arrows, joint leaders, fail to beat Maritzburg in their KwaZuluNatal derby tonight. Pirates are still adjusting to life under Muhsin Ertugral and Chiefs have to pounce now. At once, they will be seen as genuine title-contenders if they beat their bitter rivals. – 8/10. Total: 37/50
PIRATES Goalkeeper: Brighton Mhlongo started this season relegated to the stands. Felipe Ovono was No 1 while Jackson Mabokgwane, who worked with Ertugral at Mpumalanga Black Aces, deputised. But Ovono’s blunders and Mhlongo’s good command of the back four changed that. Now, Mhlongo is even in the Bafana Bafana set-up. – 6/10. Defenders: Defence is a problematic department. Pirates are too slow at the back, leaving them vulnerable to speedy opponents. Ertugral promised to “bring some fresh legs” at the back, which he has done with Justice Chabalala and Thembela Sikhakhane. But he hasn’t been able to balance experience with the fresh legs, which has resulted in defensive gaps. – 5/10. Midfielders: Another area that lacks the right balance. Plenty of attack-minded midfielders from the flanks and those at the heart like Mpho Makola and Oupa Manyisa, but the Buccaneers lack a powerful destroyer who can also pass the ball. Abbubaker Mobara can pass, but he isn’t menacing. Issa Sarr is the opposite. – 7/10. Strikers: Their attack has relied heavily on Tendai Ndoro. The Zimbabwean hasn’t disappointed, already scoring six goals in all competitions. Pirates play to his strength, waiting for him to make his intelligent runs because he doesn’t sit in the box. But if he isn’t scoring, goals are hard to come by. – 9/10. Coach: Ertugral is so competitive that he probably shouts at his own shadow for being too slow in following him. His temper either pushes players to excel or breaks them down. Ndoro scored a hat-trick after the Turk told him off in the first league match, but Ertugral also had a bust-up with Edwin Gyimah at an airport a few months ago. – 7/10. Total: 34/50