Telkom KO: Giants could slip up
The big guns avoided each other in the Telkom Knockout last eight because they were seeded, which means there’s a potential for slip ups.
|||The big guns avoided each other in the Telkom Knockout last eight because they were seeded, which means that there’s a potential for some to slip on banana peels.
Njabulo Ngidi looks at the quarter-final matches to be played this weekend.
Baroka FC v Cape Town City @ Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, 3pm
The Capetonians are as unpredictable as the weather of the city they call home. They can turn on the heat when they want to. They did that to beat the new African champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday. The problem is that they turn cold in matches that aren’t very high-profile, and no doubt coach Eric Tinkler will look to change against Baroka.
“You have to continue believing in the team and remind them to be focused and be professional,” Tinkler said. “As quickly as you get to the summit, you can fall even faster if you aren’t professional. You can’t allow the win over Sundowns to get into your head.”
Prediction: Baroka FC 2-1 Cape Town City
Mamelodi Sundowns v SuperSport United @ Lucas Moripe Stadium, 6pm
The first instalment of the Tshwane derby had everything, drama, goals and entertainment. It started before even the match kicked off when the two clubs fought over who should use which bench. It was an episode that frustrated Matsatsantsa a Pitori, but not as much as the 3-1 demolition Sundowns handed them. That match, in the MTN8, should set up an intriguing encounter in this cup between the clubs that hold three of the four trophies on offer. SuperSport, Nedbank Cup holders, bounced back from that defeat to go on a seven-match unbeaten run. The Brazilians, league and Telkom Knockout champions, will be looking to recover from their CAF Champions League success hangover.
Prediction: Mamelodi Sundowns 4-2 SuperSport United
Orlando Pirates v Highlands Park @ Orlando Stadium, 8.30pm
Life under Gordon Igesund has started smoothly for the Lions of the North. They won in his first game against Chippa United and then played to a 2-2 draw with Free State Stars on Sunday. Highlands could have beaten Ea Lla Koto but were let down by conceding late.
The four-time championship winning coach, with Pirates one of the clubs he won the league title with, admitted that challenging for the league isn’t something in the sights of the club making their Premiership debut.
But he said that they can surprise people in knockout competitions. He will have his players fired up to take on an inconsistent Buccaneers side and produce the first upset under his tenure.
Prediction: Orlando Pirates 1-0 Highlands Park
Kaizer Chiefs v Free State Stars @ Moses Mabhida Stadium, 3pm
Chiefs will have bitter-sweet memories of the competition's edition from last year. Sweet in that they were in great form going all the way to the final. But Amakhosi came unstuck against Sundowns, even missing two penalties. Chiefs couldn’t recover after that defeat, their second successive cup final loss after they were beaten in the MTN8, and went on to meekly surrender the Absa Premiership title. They had a poor start to this season but have bounced back and are top of the league. But to win this trophy, they first have to go past a rejuvenated Ea Lla Koto under Giovani Solinas.
Prediction: Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 Free State Stars
@NJABULON
@extrastrongsa
Independent Media