Giant-killers go head-to-head
Igesund’s boys to come out with all guns blazing
BOTH sides deserve to be there having dispatched with the glamour teams, Supersport United coach Gordon Igesund said of his and Platinum Stars’ participation in tomorrow’s Telkom Knockout final.
The organisers are hoping for a decent turnout despite the absence of the big-three supported clubs, Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates or Mamelodi Sundowns. Igesund said the match will provide a more than worthy final, given the manner in which his side, and Allan Freese’s Stars knocked out the big-name teams in the previous rounds.
“Both teams deserve to be in the final. When you beat Chiefs and Sundowns to reach the final you deserve to be there. And we also had two tough sides to beat in Bidvest Wits and Orlando Pirates,” the coach said yesterday.
“We have a lot of respect for Allan and his team – they are the reigning champions and obviously we’d like to change that. But we do know it will be a tough game. They’re a good team, and a cup team and they’ve got some players on form.”
Igesund opted to rest key players in Supersport’s 2-1 league defeat against Orlando Pirates on Sunday, and is hoping the move will pay off for him in the cup final.
“Against Pirates I chose to leave out Thabo Moloi and Michael Morton, who were on three yellow cards,” Igesund said.
“It’s always nice to field your strongest team and this week they’re all back, so it looks like it worked out for us.
“Thuso Phala and Morton weren’t training on Wednesday. It was more of a precaution – they both got a slight strain. I’m confident they’ll be ready to play.”
Igesund rightly identifies attack as the strength of his side. With Bradley Grobler back from injury, the coach has a host of in-form forwards to chose from including Lebogang Manyama, Dove Wome, Dino Ndlovu, and Phala.
For Stars, the name mentioned all week has been that of striker Eleazar Rodgers, whose hat-trick on Saturday ended the side’s sixmatch league winless run with a 42 victory against AmaZulu in Rustenburg.
Stars’ loss of form has shown signs of ending, including knocking both Chiefs and Sundowns out of the Telkom. Freese pointed out that he also has Ndumiso Mabena, who scored the fourth against Usuthu, returning to form.
“Early in the season we had Mabena scoring, who then went off the boil, but also scored in the last game. And I’m just happy Eleazar Rodgers has scored a few too,” the coach said. Forward Mogakolodi Ngele, a key player in Stars winning the MTN8 and Telkom last season, has been off form returning from injury.
Freese played down speculation the Botswana international has lacked motivation, having signed to join Sundowns at the end of the season.
“‘Tsotso’ hasn’t featured like he did last season because he hasn’t returned to his best fitness. He will be part of the 18 on Saturday.
“But it’s got nothing to do with him not going to be our player in the new season. Because if he doesn’t play for us, I know his new team will also loan him somewhere.
“I’ve warned [him], saying, ‘you play for us first, then you go and play for that other team’.”