It is hard to see past Mamelodi Sundowns and BidVest Wits against plucky upstarts Chippa United and Cape Town City respectively over two legs of their MTN8 semifinals‚ but it is a stage of the competition that has proven taxing for the heavyweight pair in the recent past.
Sundowns have not reached the MTN8 final since losing to Kaizer Chiefs in 2008‚ while Wits have had to wait 21 years and missed out at the semifinal stage in each of the last three seasons.
In fact‚ both teams have played six matches at this stage of the competition since 2008‚ but despite their expensively assembled squads‚ having managed just a single victory between them.
It is a baffling record‚ especially that of Wits‚ who in that time have lost out to Platinum Stars (2013) and Ajax Cape Town (2015) in ties they would have expected to win‚ to go with a more difficult‚ on paper at least‚ assignment against Orlando Pirates in 2014.
Aside from a draw in the first leg last season against Ajax‚ they have lost their previous five semifinal matches.
It means that coach Gavin Hunt‚ who has won three league titles and the country’s FA Cup twice‚ is still waiting for top eight success. He did reach the final with SuperSport United in 2012‚ but they lost 2-1 to Moroka Swallows after taking an early lead.
He is not phased by playing the first leg against Cape Town City at home‚ even though conventional wisdom suggests it is better to have the second leg on your home patch.
“Home or away first‚ we are not quite sure‚” Hunt said. “We thought it was a good thing to play away first last year‚ but Ajax went on to win the cup.
“We won’t change the approach at home. I think we need to play the way we have been playing. Not cautiously‚ but playing football the way it should be played and not thinking about the result from the first whistle.”
Wits have started the new season with victories over Kaizer Chiefs and Pirates‚ but Hunt believes their assignment on Saturday night could be more difficult than those two fixtures.
“If you thought we had two difficult games last week‚ I think this game will be harder. This team [City] has a lot to prove. They are a very hungry team.
“They have great desire and they have done very well in the transfer market. They have some good‚ experienced players. So we are under no illusions about how the game will play out over the two legs. This is a good‚ well organised team of [City coach] Eric Tinkler’s.”
Sundowns defeated Tshwane rivals SuperSport in the second leg of their semifinal in 2008‚ but since then have not managed a win in semi encounters against Pirates in 2011 (2-3 and 1-1) and Swallows (3-3 and 2-3) a year later.
Brazilians coach Pitso Mosimane has much to think about with a hectic September schedule‚ but says every game‚ in any competition‚ is a must-win for his team.
“We are not looking at which trophies we’ve won or haven’t won‚” he said. “I have a passion for each and every game.
“I am not a coach to calculate trophies. People put certificates on the wall‚ but it’s not my style. I want to win every game. It’s about lifting trophies. And yes‚ this cup has been a problem for us.”
Wits will host City on Saturday night at the BidVest Stadium (kick-off 8.15pm)‚ while Sundowns travel to Port Elizabeth to face Chippa on Sunday at 3pm. – TMG Sport
Sundowns and Wits are MTN8 favourites … but their semifinal muti will have to be strong
It is hard to see past Mamelodi Sundowns and BidVest Wits against plucky upstarts Chippa United and Cape Town City respectively over two legs of their MTN8 semifinals‚ but it is a stage of the competition that has proven taxing for the heavyweight pair in the recent past.
Sundowns have not reached the MTN8 final since losing to Kaizer Chiefs in 2008‚ while Wits have had to wait 21 years and missed out at the semifinal stage in each of the last three seasons.
In fact‚ both teams have played six matches at this stage of the competition since 2008‚ but despite their expensively assembled squads‚ having managed just a single victory between them.
It is a baffling record‚ especially that of Wits‚ who in that time have lost out to Platinum Stars (2013) and Ajax Cape Town (2015) in ties they would have expected to win‚ to go with a more difficult‚ on paper at least‚ assignment against Orlando Pirates in 2014.
Aside from a draw in the first leg last season against Ajax‚ they have lost their previous five semifinal matches.
It means that coach Gavin Hunt‚ who has won three league titles and the country’s FA Cup twice‚ is still waiting for top eight success. He did reach the final with SuperSport United in 2012‚ but they lost 2-1 to Moroka Swallows after taking an early lead.
He is not phased by playing the first leg against Cape Town City at home‚ even though conventional wisdom suggests it is better to have the second leg on your home patch.
“Home or away first‚ we are not quite sure‚” Hunt said. “We thought it was a good thing to play away first last year‚ but Ajax went on to win the cup.
“We won’t change the approach at home. I think we need to play the way we have been playing. Not cautiously‚ but playing football the way it should be played and not thinking about the result from the first whistle.”
Wits have started the new season with victories over Kaizer Chiefs and Pirates‚ but Hunt believes their assignment on Saturday night could be more difficult than those two fixtures.
“If you thought we had two difficult games last week‚ I think this game will be harder. This team [City] has a lot to prove. They are a very hungry team.
“They have great desire and they have done very well in the transfer market. They have some good‚ experienced players. So we are under no illusions about how the game will play out over the two legs. This is a good‚ well organised team of [City coach] Eric Tinkler’s.”
Sundowns defeated Tshwane rivals SuperSport in the second leg of their semifinal in 2008‚ but since then have not managed a win in semi encounters against Pirates in 2011 (2-3 and 1-1) and Swallows (3-3 and 2-3) a year later.
Brazilians coach Pitso Mosimane has much to think about with a hectic September schedule‚ but says every game‚ in any competition‚ is a must-win for his team.
“We are not looking at which trophies we’ve won or haven’t won‚” he said. “I have a passion for each and every game.
“I am not a coach to calculate trophies. People put certificates on the wall‚ but it’s not my style. I want to win every game. It’s about lifting trophies. And yes‚ this cup has been a problem for us.”
Wits will host City on Saturday night at the BidVest Stadium (kick-off 8.15pm)‚ while Sundowns travel to Port Elizabeth to face Chippa on Sunday at 3pm. – TMG Sport
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