Cup final - the vital battles

Rodney Reiners looks at key battles ahead of the Nedbank Cup final between Ajax and Sundowns. Photo by: Matthew Jordaan/Independent Media

Rodney Reiners looks at key battles ahead of the Nedbank Cup final between Ajax and Sundowns. Photo by: Matthew Jordaan/Independent Media

Published May 14, 2015

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The Nedbank Cup final between Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns in Port Elizabeth on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) hinges on who wins the individual skirmishes in vital areas of the park on Saturday.

The cliché trotted out by players and coaches before important football games such as this is always about “who’s better on the day” and “which team wants it most”. While these may be clichés, they are, in fact, spot on. Because that is all it eventually comes down – which players take charge of their respective field positions, and which individual performances contribute to making the difference between winning and losing.

GOALKEEPER DUEL

Anssi Jaakkola (Ajax Cape Town)

The big Finn has been extremely influential for Ajax over the last two years. Last season, he was nominated for the PSL Goalkeeper of the Season award, losing out to Kaizer Chiefs’ Itumeleng Khune. This season, though, his consistent form has seen him again being honoured in the category – and he should be the front-runner for the accolade this time around. Agile, a fantastic shot-stopper and superb on the cross ball, Jaakkola’s performance between the sticks will be crucial if Ajax are to have any chance of winning the Cup final.

Kennedy Mweene (Mamelodi Sundowns)

The Zambian is one of the top keepers on the continent. He stayed loyal to Free State Stars for many years, but was persuaded to join Sundowns when coach Pitso Mosimane took charge in 2013. It was a surprise signing at the time because the Pretoria club had Bafana Bafana man Wayne Sandilands playing well, but Mweene has gone to prove his worth. Known as a penalty-saver of note, the sprightly 30-year-old keeper inspired his country to victory in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, for which he was named as Goalkeeper of the Tournament, and he was also the PSL’s Goalkeeper of the Season in 2008-2009.

MIDFIELD BATTLE

Granwald Scott (Ajax Cape Town)

Scott’s influence and inspirational presence for Ajax were underlined when he was named as the club’s Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season at an awards ceremony on Tuesday night. The pugnacious central midfielder from Kensington is a footballer who never gives up. He makes Ajax tick by being the link man at the heart of their passing rhythm, while he also gets involved in the robust stuff, making tackles and closing down the space for the opposition. Make no mistake, when Scott is in there, urging, inspiring and driving the team forward, Ajax are a formidable unit.

Hlompho Kekana (Sundowns)

Kekana is the man that does the dirty work which allows the many creative sparks in the Sundowns side to blossom. With so much quality and awesome individual talent going forward, the Pretoria club needs an anchor, a boss man to call the shots… Kekana is that man. But, not only that, he has an extra string to his already threatening bow, in that he has a thunderous long range shooting boot. Last year, he won the PSL’s Goal of the Season award for a powerful, pile-driving bullet-shot that nearly broke the net in a game against Orlando Pirates. He’s a player for the big occasion – and, more than likely, the margin between victory and defeat for Ajax and Sundowns could well depend on whether Scott or Kekana gains control of midfield.

FORWARD WAR

Nathan Paulse (Ajax Cape Town)

Without a ball being kicked as yet, Paulse is already a key figure in the Cup final after Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane singled out the 33-year-old striker as a “difficult customer”. It’s not clear how Ajax coach Roger de Sa will approach his attacking selections, especially because he has the promising Tashreeq Morris as well. But there’s no doubt Paulse will play a role, be it from the start or off the bench. Defenders hate playing against the veteran from Athlone, he’s awkward, unorthodox, and his importance for Ajax cannot be emphasised more.

Cuthbert Malajila (Sundowns)

The Zimbabwean has been one of the leading lights in the goal-scoring department this season. His 10 league goals contributed to Sundowns finishing runners-up in the PSL and his performances were just as crucial in the Pretoria club’s run to the Cup final. Malajila played in his home country, Tunisia and Libya before coming to South Africa to sign for Maritzburg United in 2012.

It was here that his scoring exploits caught the eye of big-spenders Sundowns - and the next season he was on his way to Pretoria.

He hasn’t disappointed; Mosimane remains a big fan of his prowess and the striker is likely to keep Ajax’s young defenders on their toes on Saturday.- Cape Times

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