Birds to face final without Nomvethe
M OROKASwallows’ talismanic striker S iyabonga Nomvethe appears to have lost his race against time to be fit for tomorrow night’s MTN8 final against SuperSport United (Orlando Stadium, kick-off 8.15pm).
Birds coach Zeca Marques yesterday described Nomvethe as “99 percent more out than in”, as he again failed to train with the rest of the Birds squad, as he continues to recover from a damage to a big toe picked up against Orlando Pirates on September 1.
“This morning he wasn’t even training and for three weeks he hasn’t kicked a ball,” said Marques.
“I can’t see Nomvethe recovering overnight, and then there are three weeks of missed fitness. In a cup final you need everyone 100 percent, mentally and physically.”
Nomvethe, last season’s Absa Premiership top goalscorer, had also started the new campaign in fine fettle, and Marques admitted the loss was a blow, but remains confident he has the men for the job.
“Nomvethe brings something special, and he brings experience, but we have players capable of substituting with ease. It is a blow not to have him on board, but I believe whoever we put in there will come to the party.”
One man who could be back in the starting line-up is another of last season’s stars, attacking midfielder David Mathebula. Mathebula made his first appearance of the new campaign in the 3-2 league defeat by University of Pretoria last Friday, coming off the bench to play a part in Swallows’ second goal.
Cramps
“He [Mathebula] has been training for an hour with no fatigue or cramps, and I think if I needed him to start he would be more than ready,” added Marques.
Swallows enjoyed an excellent season under Gordon Igesund, finishing as league runners-up to Orlando Pirates. Silverware, however, was missing from the trophy cabinet and that is a factor new coach Marques, who stepped up from the assistant’s role this campaign, has his eye on.
“Success is measured by trophies,” said Marques.
“Coming second was great for Swallows, our best season ever from a league perspective. But I would like to be measured as a coach who brought trophies to the club.”
Swallows have not won a trophy since the 2009 Nedbank Cup, while SuperSport captured the Nedbank Cup this year, as well as winning three league titles between 2007 and 2010 under current coach Gavin Hunt. For this reason, Marques sees his side as underdogs tomorrow night.
“We are underdogs, they have won three league titles and a lot of trophies,” said Marques. “This could be our last chance of silverware this year, and I know the guys are up for it.”
Hunt, however, played down his side’s favourites tag.
“I don’t look at it like that, in a cup final anyone can win. It is important for us to have a good start, to keep hold of the ball, to keep our passing patterns right, to create chances and to have good organisation when we don’t have the ball. It’s pretty basic.”
Hunt added that Clifford Mulenga was available for selection tomorrow, having picked up a knee injury in training this week.
“For the first time the treatment room is empty. I wonder why!” he joked.