Downs, Chiefs set for battle

THE 2019 Shell Helix Ultra Cup will be played for the second time when Kaizer Chiefs host Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium tomorrow (3pm kick-off).

Last season, the Tshwane-based side, Sundowns, walked away with the bragging rights, forcing an army of Amakhosi fans to leave the World Cup venue after Themba Zwane’s goal in optional time gave the Brazilians a 2-0 lead.

They subsequently missed out on Bernard Parker’s header that made the score-line 2-1 at full-time during the pre-season encounter.

The day, however, belonged to New Zealander, Jeremy Brockie, who – unofficially – broke his duck for the Brazilians eight minutes into the second half, having endured a fivemonth barren run since joining from SuperSport United.

Brockie’s coach Pitso Mosimane even suggested that the goal would do the marksman a world of good, but that proved to be a false dawn as the Kiwi could only manage a lone strike in 13 matches.

But with this year’s edition of the Helix Ultra Cup set to get underway midway through the season, both teams will have a number of fringe players that will be looking to impress coach Ernst Middendorp, and his astute counterpart Mosiamane.

This encounter also brings life to local football as the official domestic calendar is on hold due to the Fifa break.

In the bigger scheme of things, tomorrow’s clash will likely set the tone for the Premiership tussle that will take place between these two teams in two weeks at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.