Santos not in a Sporting mood

By Rodney Reiners

Santos are adopting a confident but cautious attitude as they prepare to face First Division Sporting in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg in a Bobsave Super Bowl last-16 soccer match on Saturday afternoon.

The confidence comes from the belief that they have the team to go all the way in the lucrative cup competition, where the winner stands to pocket R1,5-million.

The caution stems from their previous Super Bowl clash against Mapobane Young Masters at Hartleyvale two weeks ago.

Also a First Division side, Young Masters gave Santos a huge scare, taking them to extra-time before the Cape club ran out 3-2 winners.

"It's always tricky playing against lower-division teams," admitted Santos chief executive Afzal Khan.

"Their motivation levels are frightening. But it's a case of absorbing the pressure and then punishing them. The longer they stay in the game, the harder they'll fight."

Santos are nevertheless optimistic about their chances and eager to win through to the quarterfinals of the competition.

Khan said the spirit in the camp was high and the players were sharp, geared and ready for Sporting.

Santos will, however, have to do without top defender Nashief Morris who is with the South African national under-20 squad to compete in the African Youth Championships starting in Ethiopia this Sunday.

Also out is midfielder David Mabeta who is still injured.

Santos are the only Cape side still in the cup after Ajax Cape Town, Hellenic, FC Fortune and Saxon Rovers were eliminated in the previous round.

Sporting, based in the townships of Newlands and Westbury in Johannesburg, are an ambitious club. They are currently placed sixth on the First Division inland log and have a number of former Premier League players in their squad.

In the previous round, Sporting caused a major upset by dumping Premier League side Classic 3-2.

Khan said they had "information" on their opponents and the assessment is that Sporting are a "pretty decent team".

In that victory over Classic former Real Rovers striker Jacky Ledwaba scored two goals for Sporting and Santos are hell-bent on stopping the goal-getter from doing the same.

After a major slump at the beginning of the year Santos are now out of the running for the league title.

But they are also safe from relegation.

That leaves the Super Bowl as the one major honour they can strive for this season.

There's no reason why they cannot sustain a good run in the competition and, who knows, go all the way and win it.

Ajax did it in the Rothmans Cup last year and, if Santos get their minds, attitude and motivation right, anything's possible.

Orlando Pirates have drawn First Division Spartak, but the match has been postponed to April 4 or 5 because Pirates have three players - Benedict Vilakazi, Joseph Makhanya and Lesley Manyathela - in the national under-20 squad in Ethiopia.