Senzo to clinch it for Bucs: Rowen

ROWEN Fernandez knows exactly what it's like to be nailed to a cross, ready for the stoning, in the Soweto derby. He has predicted that goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa will shine for Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final on Saturday.

Meyiwa is riding the crest of the wave for club and country this year, which was capped by being named Bafana Bafana captain for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers this month.

"Senzo has the upper hand because he has been the more regular goalkeeper of late; he got the massive confidence-boosting captaincy of the national team, awarded by Shakes Mashaba," said Fernandez.

Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter will toss a coin before the match at Moses Mabhida Stadium to decide who will replace injured Itumeleng Khune in goal between Reyaad Pieterse and Brilliant Khuzwayo.

Fernandez said that during his time with the Glamour Boys - in the pre-Khune era - matches between the two teams were always high in intensity and the fervour would always reach boiling point.

Whoever gets picked to start, he said, would have to make sure that communication lines aren't jammed at the back and calm heads are kept.

"Playing for a team like Chiefs or Pirates means you're under the microscope in almost every game, so you kind of get used to dealing with the pressure from game to game," said Fernandez.

"The intensity rises when you're playing in a cup final."