Cape Town - It’s a Soweto derby MTN8 final in Durban on Saturday, but goalkeepers Senzo Meyiwa from Orlando Pirates and Brilliant Khuzwayo from Kaizer Chiefs will have a derby of their own at opposite ends of the Moses Mabhida Stadium pitch.
Both players were born in Umlazi, a township outside Durban, and they head into the highly anticipated final determined to claim the “king of Umlazi” crown in front of friends and family.
Meyiwa is a guaranteed starter for last year’s losing finalists Orlando Pirates, while Khuzwayo’s place in Itumeleng Khune’s absence is not quite confirmed with Reyaad Pieterse also in contention.
For Khuzwayo, Saturday’s match could be the greatest night of his life. His father, a die-hard Amakhosi fan, will be at the stadium and the former AmaZulu and Thanda Royal Zulu player is hoping to make his old man proud and be remembered like his hero Brian Baloyi, who is a legend at Chiefs for his memorable performances, particularly in penalty shoot-outs in cup finals.
“I grew up watching Brian Baloyi and he is actually the reason I am a goalkeeper. I remember some of his best games. In the Rothmans Cup final and in the Vodacom Challenge as well,” said Khuzwayo, who made his first appearance for Amakhosi this season in the 2-1 victory over University of Pretoria last weekend.
He gave away a penalty which helped Tuks level matters.
Earlier this week, Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter said he was still not sure who he would play in goal on Saturday night.
Meyiwa, meanwhile, has always dreamt of playing in a Soweto derby cup final.
Thrice he has missed out - in the 2006 Absa Cup final, the 2010 Telkom Knockout final and the MTN8 a year later - having to watch from the bench while Francis Chansa kept goal eight years ago and then Moeneeb Josephs had the job for the two most recent finals between the giants.
Meyiwa, who captained Bafana Bafana recently in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan and Nigeria, has become the undisputed choice in goal for Pirates.
“I remember Pirates lost to Chiefs in Durban (Absa Cup in 2006). Rowen Fernandez was in goal for Chiefs and Francis Chansa was on the other side for Pirates. I was in the first team for Pirates and I was inspired. When I saw the crowd, I wanted to see myself playing in a a final and in a fully-packed stadium. The family will be there. I must do my best to make them happy when they go back home.
“It’s a great opportunity for him (Khuzwayo) because Khune will not play.
“We are from the same township… but this is a cup game and I want to make sure that I win it because last season I lost it against Platinum Stars.”
Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Doctor Khumalo has warned fans against expecting an open final.
“As South Africans, we need to grow in terms of how tactically and technically sound we are in the way we view the game,” Khumalo said.
“Don’t expect the derby to be the same as when Teenage Dladla or Jomo Sono played. The approach is different.
“Gone are those days when you have to please the crowd.”
Buccaneers assistant Eric Tinkler agreed the match, with R8 million prize money, was unlikely to be an open affair.
Cape Argus