Another chapter in South Africa's soccer history will be written on Saturday night when two "outsiders" Golden Arrows and Ajax Cape Town meet in the MTN final at the new refurbished Orlando Stadium. Kick-off is at 8.15pm.
It was 25 years since the last final was played at the Soweto venue when Kaizer Chiefs beat Durban City 1-0 in the second leg of the Sales House Champions of Champions Cup to take the trophy 4-1 on aggregate in March 1984.
Marks Maponyane, the former Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana striker who scored the only goal in the second leg, said the new-look Orlando Stadium is world class since the ground underwent its upgrade last year
Continues Below ↓
The stadium will be used as a training venue for next year's World Cup finals.
Said Maponyane: "I have been privileged to watch soccer around the world as for my money this is one of the finest venues I have seen. But that was not the case way back in 1984 and in 1981 when I started playing my career here as a teenager. The transformation from then until now is amazing. I cannot understand why Orlando Stadium was not considered as a World Cup venue as it is that good."
Former Durban City and Bafana skipper and now coach of AmaZulu, Neil Tovey, also played in that 1984 cup final. He said he was stunned by the renovations and change to Orlando Stadium.
Speaking after seeing the newly renovated Orlando Stadium for the first time on Wednesday at a media briefing at the stadium Tovey was almost speechless: "I am overwhelmed. This is a brilliant stadium now. It is awesome. I am impressed. This is what was needed 25 years ago. We badly needed a stadium of this stature with these fantastic infra-structures 25 years ago.
"But better late than never. This is the heartland of South Africa soccer and I am delighted that eventually Soweto, the place that gave birth to the three greatest clubs in the country, (Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows) has finally a magnificent world class stadium like this to call its own."
Tovey has opted for Arrows to win their first even major trophy. Said Tovey: "Arrows will do KwaZulu Natal proud. They have a superb coach in Manqoba Mngqithi and my money is on then to beat Ajax."
Maponyane was not so sure: "I have been impressed by Ajax's speed and the fact that they have beaten both Pirates and Chiefs to get to the final."
But Maponyane stressed that reputations count for nothing in a final: "It is the team that seizes the moment and who is determined and committed who will win. I laugh when I see players crying after losing a final. They have no reason to cry as they had 90 minutes to win it. My message to the players is that this maybe your first and last final - make the most of this opportunity as many players never get to play in a cup final in their entire careers.
"Cup finals are special. Play this game as it was your last and make it count."
Tovey agreed. "It is not always the so-called big teams that produce classic finals. I believe that both Ajax with their pace and Arrows with their skillful players will rise to the occasion and my message is to the fans in Soweto to turn out and support not just the players but the game and pack into this wonderful stadium and help make this a final to be remembered." - Sapa
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
