WHY BUCS WILL WIN
BAD luck, the adage goes, comes in threes. It could be that Orlando Pirates succeed at winning a cup final on Saturday — their fourth attempt to do so this season.
In the Nedbank Cup on Saturday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, when the Buccaneers take on Bidvest Wits, black or red will be the dominant colour as the Ghost will be in the majority.
So far, under coach Vladimir Vermezovic, Pirates haven’t played as if they deserve silverware. But their 2-1 win over Maritzburg United in the semifinals proved they can be a class act.
Vermezovic seems to have finally settled on a starting line-up. Since he took charge of his first match at the club, on March 12, the coach made an average of six changes per game. However, Pirates’ previous three encounters, excluding yesterday’s PSL match against Golden Arrows, showed that “VV” may have found a winning combination.
Sometimes there’s no better approach than sticking to your guns, which is what the coach will be doing if he relies on his key men against Wits.
Following their progress to the final against United, Vermezovic made one change, forced on him because left back Thabo Matlaba was suspended, in Pirates’ away trip to Free State Stars.
The coach will rely on captain Lucky Lekgwathi, Happy Jele, Rooi Mahamutsa and Matlaba as his solid back four. These men will hold their nerve, having done so in the domestic league and against Africa’s finest in the Caf Champions League.
If Mahamutsa can close down inform striker S’thembiso Ngcobo, that’s half the job done for VV’s men.
Pirates also have the edge in midfield, where Thandani Ntshumayelo has had to step up since the departure of Bafana’s Andile Jali to Belgium. Ntshumayelo is also capable of silencing Wits skipper and footballer of the year nominee Sibusiso Vilakazi.
Ntshumayelo said: “It will be a tussle there because Wits also have new kid Phumlani Ntshangase playing a similar role. That is where the game can be won and they have useful players in that area. All they need to do is link up with Ngcobo, who is suited to their style since Gavin Hunt recruited him, and they could hurt us.
“What we need to do is put pressure on the opposition until the
Coach Vermezovic knows how we can capitalise on Wits’ weaknesses
end. I think that is what we have lacked in the past three cup finals — one more goal to make sure the game goes our way.”
Indeed, all three cup finals have been close affairs. In the Champions League against Al Ahly, the Buccaneers played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Orlando Stadium and fell apart in the second half of the return leg in Cairo to lose 2-0.
Next, Platinum Stars beat them on penalties to clinch the MTN8 before going back for seconds and denying them the Telkom Knockout title by winning 2-1.
Vermezovic knows what’s at stake. His meticulous planning in cup finals, as he proved in the two he won during his time at Kaizer Chiefs, will come in handy.
“He knows how we can capitalise on Wits’ weaknesses. It was always going to take a bit of time for the coach to settle and I think he’s done so at a time when we feel we should get something out of this season,” said Ntshumayelo.