Will Golden Arrows strike Platinum?
Larsen’s charges determined to make Platinum see stars
IF ANY team is not under pressure in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals today, it must be Golden Arrows, who host Platinum Stars at the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu.
The Durban side, and perhaps Jomo Cosmos, the only non-Premiership outfit left in the national knockout competition, would comfortably carry the underdog tag. After all, both the so-called small clubs wouldn’t have been expected to have come this far.
But having advanced to this point, and having knocked out a giant such as Mamelodi Sundowns, the African champions, Arrows are now eager to go all the way and lift the trophy that comes with a R7-million cheque. It also guarantees the winners a place in the continent’s second-tier club competition, the Confederation Cup.
Arrows’ opponents are in the Confederation Cup, as are SuperSport United, the defending champions who face Kaizer Chiefs in the crunch tie of the round in the early night game in Joburg.
The SuperSport board will expect the team to retain the trophy, and the Glamour Boys are always under pressure from their hordes of supporters to win everything.
In contrast Arrows view it as a bonus to be at this stage, given the club’s stature, although coach Clinton Larsen believes they are well placed to win the club their second trophy. Arrows’ other cup success was the MTN8 title they won in 2009.
“The mood is good. From day one we have been in the top eight of the league and we will continue to fight to be there,” said La rsen. “The cup is a nice respite from the league and we expect an open game. Nobody wants to have the lottery of penalties.”
As a young side, with no worries in the league, Arrows can go out and enjoy the occasion, and take the game to the opposition.
Platinum, on the other hand, are too close to relegation, and will be desperate to win the cup as a means of salvaging their campaign.
“These youngsters don’t really know what true pressure is about,” Larsen added. “They play with freedom and because of this they may be able to relax more.
“At the back of their minds, however, they will know it’s an important game and that they need to get through and win it to repay their supporters for standing by them.”
The Arrows squad is a youthful one, with a sizeable contingent of players in their early twenties, among them goalkeeper Nkosingiphile Gumede, midfielders Nduduzo Sibiya and Velemseni Ndwandwe and striker Sibusiso Sibeko.
This afternoon they will rely on the guidance of veteran internationals like Kagisho Dikgacoi and Malawian striker Chiukepo Msowoya to overcome their more experienced counterparts like midfielder Solomon Mathe and goalkeeper Mbongeni Mzimela.
Mzimela has been a key player for Platinum, scoring several penalties and stopping them too, most recently last weekend when they edged AS Tanda of Ivory Coast on penalties to advance to the group phase of the Confederation Cup.
The Chiefs-SuperSport meeting will be a cat and mouse affair. Expect numerous line-up changes from both teams, who will want to rest certain players for the league games that follow.
On Tuesday, Chiefs visit log leaders Cape Town City, and SuperSport go to second-placed Bidvest Wits.
The draw for the semi-finals will be held in Johannesburg on Monday night. It will be an unseeded draw, with the team drawn first enjoying home advantage.