Mapeza ends Galaxy’s Nedbank fairytale
NORMAN MAPEZA ended TS Galaxy’s Nedbank Cup romance, which started last year and culminated in their shock win over Kaizer Chiefs in the final this year, as Chippa United thrashed the holders 3- 0 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Zimbabwean coach, who has transformed the Chilli Boys since taking over last year, found a way to beat the plucky holders from GladAfrica Championship who were the toast of the Nedbank Cup last season.
The Nedbank Cup is South Africa’s premier inter- club tournament and features clubs from the country’s competitive leagues. Galaxy were only formed at the start of the 2018- 19 season after former intermediary Tim Sukazi purchased the franchise of Cape Town All Stars and relocated the club to Mpumalanga.
They stunned South Africa’s glamour club, Kaizer Chiefs, in last year’s final and had won all five of their previous Nedbank Cup matches — which amazingly were all played away — ahead of their battle against Mapeza’s men.
Their five victories away last season were at Umvoti ( 3- 1), Jomo Cosmos ( 1- 0), Cape Umoya United ( 2- 1), Lamontville Golden Arrows ( 3- 1), while the final against Chiefs was at a neutral venue.
Coach Dan Malesela, a former Chippa United gaffer, had hoped another fairytale run in the Nedbank Cup would make up for a disappointing league campaign.
“We are hoping that this match is one of those things that help us turn our season around. Participating in the Nedbank Cup last season helped us a lot,” Malesela told reporters.
“Of the difficulties we’ve been having in the league, we’ve had many draws, we have to find that motivation to end that and the cup gives us that opportunity.” However, Mapeza ensured that would not come true as his men triumphed on
Wednesday night.
Goals from Ruzaigh Gamildien and Augustine Kwem ( two) in the second half won the day for Chippa, who have reached the semi- finals in two of the previous three seasons.
After a difficult first half, Chippa came alive in the second as they found it easier to play in the wet conditions.
“It was a good game of football, first half we suffered a bit. We didn’t have clear- cut chances,” Mapeza said.
“But in the second half I said, ‘ Look, we need to make use of the chances we are creating’. It paid off, scoring three goals against the defending champions. It wasn’t easy, but the boys worked hard.”
He says he was helped by the fact that Galaxy struggled to get anything going in the Chippa half.
“They are a team that likes to knock the ball around and if they were going to knock the ball around in our final third, I was going to get worried. But most of the time they just playing it in their own half, which is OK,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst
Middendorp says new signing Anthony Akumu could make his debut for the club in their Nedbank Cup last- 32 clash at home to Royal Eagles tomorrow.
Akumu joined Chiefs last month from Zambian side Zesco United and, with his paperwork completed, is now eligible for selection.
Akumu is a defensive midfielder who played against Chiefs in the 2018- 19 Caf Confederation Cup, when his Zesco side ousted the AmaKhosi from the competition 12 months ago. Middendorp also confirmed that Khama Billiat is back from a six- week lay- off and also could be part of the squad. Billiat has battled with hamstring problems and was rested by the AmaKhosi, who are now happy that he is fit again. — Sports Reporter/ SuperSport.