The stage is set for an intriguing MTN8 final when Ajax Cape Town and Kaizer Chiefs do battle at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday afternoon (3pm).
Not only is this fixture one of the more anticipated on the football programme, not only has it produced some epic clashes down the years, but now there’s extra spice added because of Ajax’s displeasure at Chiefs’ proposal to play three home games in the Mother City.
Toss in the fact that Chiefs are defending PSL and MTN8 champions and that much-improved and highly-ambitious Ajax have an exciting squad studded with a host of top-quality young players, and all of this makes for a mouth-watering Cup final in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Ajax coach Roger de Sa is determined that his men go one better this time around.
In May, the Capetonians made it to the final of the Nedbank Cup final, only to lose on penalties to Mamelodi Sundowns. De Sa is of the opinion the experience of that loss will provide motivation ahead of Saturday’s finale against the popular Soweto club.
“I’m hoping that we’ve learnt from the last one,” said De Sa. “If so, we should be able to do better this time, and turn that last result around.
“It’s been tough journey to the final. We had to play Orlando Pirates away from home and win, and then we had a tough games against Wits home and away… we rode our luck at times – but, in football, you need a bit of luck to be successful.”
De Sa rested star teenager Rivaldo Coetzee for the weekend’s 2-1 PSL win over Polokwane City at the Cape Town Stadium, but he’s confident the Bafana Bafana man will be back, fit and raring to go on Saturday.
“I’m sure Rivaldo will be fine,” said De Sa. “We didn’t want to play him too soon after he returned slightly injured from national duty last week. So we gave him some time to rest and recover. He’ll have full training sessions this week and he’ll be okay.”
De Sa, though, admitted that, in Chiefs, they faced a really tough opponent. “Chiefs have a fantastic pedigree,” said the Ajax coach. “They certainly don’t lose too many finals… It’s won’t be easy, that’s for sure. And my players know they are in for a difficult one on Saturday. Chiefs are League and Cup champions…
“But the good thing for the Ajax youngsters is that it is their second Cup final in a very short space of time. They are looking forward to it and eager to be on the winning side.”