Friday | September 11, 2020

The Nedbank Cup final is coming to a head on Saturday, Sep. 12. Bloemfontein Celtic take on the indomitable Mamelodi Sundowns in the final match of the Premier Soccer League top-tire tournaments. While Celtic will be looking for their maiden Nedbank Cup victory, Sundowns will be sizing them up as a remaining ladder to catapult themselves to a third cup of the 2019/20 successful season.

The 32-team Nedbank Cup battles royal draws to a close on Saturday night when Celtic go face-to-face with Sundowns.

Soweto will host the 2019/20 edition of the last cup final of the season at Orlando Stadium at 20:00.

Celtic are a surprise package to make it this far. Quite fairly, they are an uncommon feature in cup-final stakes.

Here they are in the momentous final which can swing either way. On a good day, they might be inaugurated as the champions should the odds favour them. After all, there are no second chances in cup final matches.

It is this no-regrouping fact that finalists come out guns blazing. That is what makes cup games exhilarating. Except on this occasion the spectators who often add colour to these events will be the missing link. The government regulations on Covid-19 are still in place in South Africa.

Furthermore, both teams may be limited by niggling injuries here and there. Be that as it may, the prestige of the Nedbank Cup final will not diminish in any way or form.

Pitchside

Although the newish John Maduka is still filling the shoes of the previous coach, he is not that new in the Celtic dugout. Just like a full-time coach, he has a job to do. And it is daunting one (to face a stylish Sundowns hunting pack). Nevertheless, his charges are the underdogs in this game and they somewhat make light of the heaviness of winning the trophy up for grabs.

The same can not be said for the well-traveled Pitso Mosimane. He is gearing up for his second Nedbank Cup win as Sundowns head coach. He has a tried and test team that has delivered before, not once but several times. For them, these cup fields are all too familiar. The Brazilians [Sundowns] can flip a game on its head at a slightest moment.

Mosimane wants to set an emphatic record and become the greatest ever to walk the Sundowns dressing room. And, by extentions, mesmerize the PSL’s historic milestones. With Africa, as the celestial-inspired club slogan reverberates: “The Sky is the Limit”. 

Maduka too, is mulling over making a name for himself against this brilliant Pretoria side. This ideal – he will be the quickest to admit – is just one game away. Above all, dreams know no bounds. For this very reason, Siwelele will be in Orlando to compete, not for body count.

The odds

So much is known about Celtic’s opponents. Mamelodi Sundowns. They are a star-studded outfit. And they have become predictable over the years. Yet, they bring the house down when they take to the pitch.

While their countless superstars leave opponents restless and overprepared prior kick-off, their predictable element makes and gives opponents a glimmer of hope to hunt on a plain, if a dry desert.

With their impressive trophy pedigree, Sundowns are the firm favourites. Their compelling depth in the quality of the squad saw them finish strong and convincingly in the 2019/20 league race. To cap it all, they secured two trophies (i.e. the Absa Premiership League & Telkom Knockout) so far this season. Undoubtedly, The Brazilians are going for a treble. 

It is with this experience, therefore, that begs an obvious question: How will Siwelele stop them? They [Celtic] will be well-advised not to challenge Sundowns outright for they might run out of steam and suffer severe body blows.

But Bloemfontein Celtic will not lay down and be trampled upon by a ruthless force. They got to the final on merit. For this reason, they will, and should, give it their best shot.

A ball turns

Some have written off Celtic already. As it is and has always been, Mosimane and Maduka know this game has to run its full regulation time.

Though Sundowns have an impressive teamsheet, it is an advantage but not an end itself. It is the means. Themba “Mshishi” Zwane, Gaston Sarino, Lebohang Maboe are among the live-wire threats in the Sundowns stable.

Even if weak on paper, Celtic too, have the means to an end with potential. Players like Ndumiso Mabena, Justice Chabalala, Menzi Masuku, to name a few, come to mind. So this Nedbank outstanding cup matter will be won on the field of play.

Sundowns have won the Nedbank Cup on two occasions (2007/08 & 2014/2015) to date.

Celtic have lifted none. However, they are aware that club-cup pedigree does not necessarily automate nor translate into winning it. Although it can tilt the winning scales towards the experienced team and (negatively) affect players psychologically, it does not preclude a new team from emerging triumphant.

For all intents and purposes, Siwelele will most certainly draw inspiration from the previous [2018/19) winners, TS Galaxy FC, a 2nd-stream PSL team. An extraordinary achievement for Galaxy. A compelling motivational plaque for the Bloemfontein tricky troops.

Could this be Celtic’s first? A noteworthy question which will be settled in the next 24 hours. Objectively.

The victors of the Nedbank Cup will walk away with a cool R7 million in prize money along with the trophy. The embellishments of cup tournaments.