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MTN8 set up to deliver thrills

HAPPINESS: Platinum Stars celebrate their MTN8 win against Orlando Pirates Photo: THEMBINKOSI DWAYISA
HAPPINESS: Platinum Stars celebrate their MTN8 win against Orlando Pirates Photo: THEMBINKOSI DWAYISA

WHAT a World Cup! A record number of goals, upsets, drama, biting. Let's be honest, it's going to be a tough act for the MTN8 to follow.

But, there is hope. The SA football season kicks off tonight with the traditional first of the three cup competitions involving the top eight finishers from the previous season.

The first knockout tournament sets up the season to come.

Bidvest Wits' coach Gavin Hunt expects to have eight new faces for tonight's clash against Bloemfontein Celtic at Milpark Stadium (8pm kickoff).

Tonight's game will give some insight into whether Zambian captain Chris Katongo still has some of the explosive ability that saw him finish as top scorer in the PSL for Jomo Cosmos in 2006-07 with 15 goals.

A young player to watch out for at the Students is left winger Vincent Pule, signed from National First Division side African Warriors.

Celtic will be their organised selves under the studious though erratically natured Ernst Middendorp - but can the tremors of a sale from the Augousti brothers to Free State businessman Max Tshabalala be felt on the field?

Almost everyone agrees Pitso Mosimane's defending PSL champions, Mamelodi Sundowns are the team to stop.

Their tasty fixture with MTN trophy holders Platinum Stars tomorrow will give insight into coach Mosimane's starting XI.

But does Stars coach Allan Freese still have the firepower - having lost Siphelele Mthembu, Benson Mhlongo and Issa Sarr - to repeat the double cup-winning heroics of last season?

The big question mark for Orlando Pirates, who host SuperSport United at Orlando Stadium, is coach Vladimir "VV" Vermezovic, who showed at Kaizer Chiefs he can get sides playing smooth, technical football, though he has a fiery personality that can unravel things.

Chiefs against Mpumalanga Black Aces is a rematch of the game at FNB Stadium where Clive Barker's AmaZayoni ended Amakhosi's league title hopes last season.

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