It
is the final. Yes the Telkom Knockout final between Mamelodi Sundowns (Bafana
Ba Style) and Bloemfontein Celtic (Phunya Sele Sele).
A
big question to most soccer loving people is… who deserves it most? Both teams
deserve the cup in their own right. The teams worked hard to be where they are
(final). A well organized Celtic did well to reach the final so is Sundowns.
Remember goals win games not good display of the ball, but also as supporters
we want to see those skills, tsmayas, shibobos and show me your number.
Celtic
sent Orlando Pirates packing in the quarterfinals - the determination and
hunger of the players played a big role in that game. Celtic fought until the
last min of the game and they were rewarded - the same fighting spirit was
shown against Free State Stars in the semifinals, their biggest Free State
rivals. Phunya Sele Sele has not had it easy against the Mamelodi boys in
recent years. Will this be the turn around? Will Celtic add more salt into
Sundowns’ wounds? Will Celtic reward the Siwelele good supporters? They deserve
some silverware and if it was up to me I’d just hand the cup to Celtic fans as
they are very consistence supporters I have seen. However, like any other team
they have to wait for full 90 minutes cheering their heroes and believing that
they can put the goal behind Sundowns goal post.
Telkom Knockout
head-to-head (since 1996/97)
Played: 3
Sundowns wins: 3
Celtic wins: 0
Draws: 0
Sundowns goals: 7
Celtic goals: 3
Sundowns,
well this team has been underperforming for the better part of the season. They
are not convincing in any way. It seems the players do not want to play for the
coach… or is it a matter of trying too much? Sundowns have been a “PSL Point
Collecting Zone”. Things are not going well for Mamelodi Bafana Ba Style - they
play beautiful football, but struggle to score goals, with the number of good
strikers that they have at their disposal. One can think that the same muti (if
there is any) that was used on Bafana Bafana was also applied on Sundowns as
well. They just don’t score. Well they are not in the final by fluke. They have
been scoring some goals in the cup games - that’s something!
A
cup final game cannot be determined by league form. If it was then Sundowns will not be in the
final of the Telkom Knockout. Bafana Ba
Style players and the coach know that anything less than a win on Saturday will
be a very big disappointment not only to them, but their supporters. Will Sundowns
turn the corner and win some silverware after four years? Will they cope with Celtic’s current form?
I
have a feeling that it is going to be thriller of a final on Saturday night.
Both teams are desperate to win it for different reasons. Celtic is struggling
to beat Sundowns and have not won silverware in a while. They have passionate
supporters and I think this cup will just be a good Christmas present for the Siwelele
faithful supporters. They have been sweating and dancing on the grand stand for
a while without anything to show for their troubles. Sundowns on the other hand
want this one badly to prove that they are still one of the power houses of South
African football. A win for Sundowns will be a morale boast for the players to
take on the league.
But
I say Sandawana and Siwelele lets go and enjoy the game in Durban and may the
best team win. Remember “Goals Win Games”.
By Nito Serage
