Soccer Laduma

What are the key battles?

- V Hanamub

man Saleng was kept weto Derby and AmaRiaan Hanamub may to ensure he keeps the t bay in this final. Both s of pace and this is one t will probably light up ng might not have had t Chiefs, but he scored ober and has proven to the opposition, with his ind defenders with his Playing on the right as game usually involves k into play to either into the box or take a is something Hanamub ware of on match day. ack enjoys getting forthis might mean that ber will need to track make sure the Namibal does not cause too or the Pirates defence. o assists this season.

i v Mhango

ants have worked tirescenes to improve their ey component in that guard is former Golden

in so well since joining. The 27-year-old has started all the 16 matches Pirates have played this season and has played a key part in the side’s nine clean sheets. The 27-year-old would want to see his side making it three clean sheets in a row in the MTN8, but it won’t be easy when Mhango is on the opposite side. The Malawian internatio­nal was suspended when AmaZulu played out to a 1-1 draw with the Buccaneers in the league last month, but is available to face his former side this weekend. He should be itching to make life difficult for Pirates and has a point to prove after

he left the club without getting a lot of game-time in recent times, despite his blistering form in national colours. His aggression should make life difficult for Bucs defenders, but he gets easily frustrated and ends up making fouls and attracting cautions, something Sibisi & Co. will be aware of and will want to capitalise on.

The Spaniard v the Frenchman, in Durban

Both new to South African football, Jose Riveiro and Romain Folz have an opportunit­y to bag a trophy early on to ease some pressure on their shoulders. The Pirates coach, however, is under more pressure after the derby loss. A for the Ghost and they may turn up the heat on the coach if that were to be the case, something Riveiro will want to prevent at all costs. The Soweto giants were also in a final, against RS Berkane in the CAF Confederat­ion Cup, where they lost on penalties, and to lose another cup final so soon would be pain on a different level for Pirates. The Spaniard has worked hard on turning the Pirates defence into a solid unit that is nearly impenetrab­le, with the side having conceded just one goal in the MTN8 so far, but are his tactics quite predictabl­e? Like George Dearnaley mentions in his mini-interview, Bucs seem to be relying too much on certain players, to the extent that if they don’t perform, the whole team’s display collapses. his season. That said, Miguel Timm’s return from suspension should be a boost. On the other side you have Folz, who finally won his first game as a coach in South Africa last weekend. That could just be the boost his side needs to overcome their opponents on Saturday. He will be looking to outsmart his counterpar­t the same way Arthur Zwane did last Saturday by exposing Pirates’ weaknesses and pinging balls in-behind their defence. That he is under less pressure could work to his advantage as all eyes are on Pirates. Both sides are dangerous on the transition, with a lot of pace to

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