HOW different the routes taken by the Telkom Knockout finalists to arrive at this point!
HOW different the routes taken by the Telkom Knockout finalists to arrive at this point!
Reaching Durban's Kings Park Stadium, the venue for tomorrow night's final, was a nerve-racking affair for Amakhosi, who survived two penalty shootouts.
Defending champions Ajax were much more decisive, banging in five goals en route to the last hurdle to the cool R4 million first prize.
Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic would have noted this record and compared it to Amakhosi's solitary strike by Mandla Masango against Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarterfinals.
The intrigue is also in that in their head-to-head record, not much separates these two sides.
Ajax coach Foppe de Haan said the Urban Warriors' biggest strength is in teamwork.
Stanton Lewis, George Maluleka and Nathan Paulse have all come forward to contribute in this run.
"We have scored some great goals in our last few matches - team goals with a number of players touching the ball leading up to the goal. We will play in the same manner in the final," said the Dutch coach.
While Chiefs have to do without Itumeleng Khune, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Reneilwe Letsholonyane, players like Knowledge Musona, Masango and captain Jimmy Tau have excelled in their absence.
"Ajax cannot be underestimated," Tau said. "The spirit in the camp is electrifying. We know that this final presents us an opportunity to have our names engraved in the history of this great club."
The Urban Warriors will be minus the injured Brett Evans but Thulani Serero is back in the fold.
Though Chiefs only managed one goal in three matches in the tournament, I tip them to lift the trophy tomorrow. Kickoff is at 8.15pm.
CLASH OF THE TITANS
HOW different the routes taken by the Telkom Knockout finalists to arrive at this point!
HOW different the routes taken by the Telkom Knockout finalists to arrive at this point!
Reaching Durban's Kings Park Stadium, the venue for tomorrow night's final, was a nerve-racking affair for Amakhosi, who survived two penalty shootouts.
Defending champions Ajax were much more decisive, banging in five goals en route to the last hurdle to the cool R4 million first prize.
Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic would have noted this record and compared it to Amakhosi's solitary strike by Mandla Masango against Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarterfinals.
The intrigue is also in that in their head-to-head record, not much separates these two sides.
Ajax coach Foppe de Haan said the Urban Warriors' biggest strength is in teamwork.
Stanton Lewis, George Maluleka and Nathan Paulse have all come forward to contribute in this run.
"We have scored some great goals in our last few matches - team goals with a number of players touching the ball leading up to the goal. We will play in the same manner in the final," said the Dutch coach.
While Chiefs have to do without Itumeleng Khune, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Reneilwe Letsholonyane, players like Knowledge Musona, Masango and captain Jimmy Tau have excelled in their absence.
"Ajax cannot be underestimated," Tau said. "The spirit in the camp is electrifying. We know that this final presents us an opportunity to have our names engraved in the history of this great club."
The Urban Warriors will be minus the injured Brett Evans but Thulani Serero is back in the fold.
Though Chiefs only managed one goal in three matches in the tournament, I tip them to lift the trophy tomorrow. Kickoff is at 8.15pm.