Remember,
the Rothmans Cup Finals between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns in the late
90’s, and final of the same competition between Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape
Moses
Mabhida continued to be Orlando Pirates’ happy hunting ground when they lifted
their first-ever Telkom Knockout trophy, but the quality of the game couldn’t
match the occasion. Remember, the Rothmans Cup Finals between Kaizer Chiefs and
Mamelodi Sundowns in the late 90’s, and final of the same competition between
Orlando Pirates and Ajax
Cape
Those
finals will go down as some of the most exciting cup finals in the history of
South African football, where even the losers left the stadium having being
treated to the best of SA football. The Telkom Knockout clash between Orlando
Pirates and BIDVest couldn’t leave up to those expectations.
The four
goals witnessed were not a true reflection of the quality of the game. Wits’
puerile mistakes at the back, compounded by equally trivial misses by Pirates
turned the final into one of the most poor-quality-football finals.
The flow of
the game was nauseatingly interrupted by numerous mistakes from players whereby
possession was given away rather too cheaply, and some low-class
decision-making by players left much to be desired. With the quality of players
Pirates boasted on the field a more authoritative performance was expected from
the Buccaneers. However, other than the early goal that was given away clumsily
by Wits, it was difficult to spot the better team on the field throughout the
first half.
Even worse,
amid countless amateurish mistakes by both teams, Wits still proved to have the
tactical superiority, especially in the second half. This was also conceded by
Pirates coach, Julio Leal, in his post-match interview.
It used to
be a norm that fans would go to such important games to be treated to the best
of SA football. But when players who possess that magic like Oupa ‘Ace’ Manyisa
come on very late in the game, one cannot help but worry about the direction
the local game is taking. In the past, players like Manyisa used to be seen the
best players and a stage like Saturday night’s used to be theirs.
In his
column, South African football is anti-football, Zipho Dlangalala argues, “Had
Messi been born here, we may not have seen him anywhere near the top leagues,
never mind winning any player award.” Log on to MaximalFootball.com on Monday
morning to read Dlangalala’s observation on South Africa
By Editor of Maximal Football
Via - http://goo.gl/fQnQj
More pictures (Official Telkom
Knockout FB) - http://goo.gl/TASDb
Main picture supplied by Telkom Knockout FB
Main picture supplied by Telkom Knockout FB
