By Siyabonga Mkhwanazi
The Rothmans Cup, Africa's richest soccer tournament, will be no more after Saturday.
With Rothmans pulling out as sponsor because of Government's anti-tobacco laws, which prohibit tobacco companies from public advertising, including sponsoring sports events, the final between Orlando Pirates and Ajax Cape Town at FNB will be a bittersweet occasion.
Soccer lovers, officials, sponsors and players are sure to shed a tear or two when the final whistle blows, and if former Chiefs and Sundowns coach Paul Dolezar was here, he would surely weep.
Dolezar, who left South Africa when he quit Sundowns in August, stamped his authority on the 4-year-old competition by winning it three times - twice with Chiefs and once with Sundowns.
So, whichever club pockets the coveted R1,1-million first prize will have the honour of winning the last Rothmans Cup.
Fans who want to bid the tournament farewell should be at the FNB stadium at 3.30pm, but remember to take an umbrella along with you.
According to the weather bureau, Gauteng residents are in for a wet and cloudy weekend, with scattered thundershowers.
There is a possibility of 30-40mm of rain, says the bureau.
Sunday promises to be wet in the morning only and partly cloudy in the afternoon.
Viewers can catch a live broadcast of the highlights of the rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand on SABC at 7am.
In the evening, a rugby match between the Barbarians and South Africa can be viewed at 10.25pm on SABC 3.