It’s do or die day today for Ikage Primary School and the defending champions, Skeen Primary School in the boys’ division of the Discovery Cup final at the Number 3 Square Grounds.
Everybody has been left to guess whether there will be a new champion or whether the defending champs will retain the trophy and become the second school to have successfully defended the trophy.
Iphutheng Primary School is the only team to have achieved this feat and entered into the books of the tournament as the only school to have previously defended their championship of the Discovery Cup.
Read: Ikage through to finals
Whether Skeen will equal that record held by Iphutheng or whether there will be a new champion crowned today [1 November], only the final whistle of the referee will tell the sad or good news, depending which side of the fence you’re on.
But the Alex News’ smart money is on the defending champions, Skeen, considering their 100 per cent unbeaten record in the tournament, though slightly blemished in the final group stages in which they were held to a draw.
They went on to redeem themselves in the semis when they disposed of former two-time champions in a row, Iphutheng by 2-1, sounding their intentions to defend the trophy come rain or sunshine.
But whether the sun will shine on them today depends on what they will do in the field of play against a slick Ikage team, which turned the tables around, coming from being the whipping boys of the tournament over many years to shoot their way into the final.
Read: MC Weiler, Skeen on course to defend Discovery Cup
They may be the underdogs but their advantage, which applies to Skeen as well, is that the boys have been in the same unit for a couple of years now and understand each other well.
As it has been said before, football is a cruel game. Form and records may mean nothing on the day and the same can be said of play.
The best playing team on the day may not necessarily win the championship if they are not clinical in front of goals.
Dr Knak is a good example. They were all over Zenzeleni in the fourth match of the group stages and missed numerous opportunities, only for Zenzeleni to bury the only decent chance they got and won the match.
Read: Alex girl comes off the streets to dribble her way to football Mecca
A lot also depends on the tactics that coaches use in the finals. Whichever coach comes with a better strategy and tactics may see his team lift the trophy.
In the girls’ division, it has become clear that there will be a new champion after defending champions MC Weiler, despite winning all their games in the group stages and amassing a record 15 points, were beaten 1-0 in the semis by Dr Knak.
The girls’ final will be contested by Ekukhanyisweni and Dr Knak, who come from the same group.
As stated, Alex News’ smart money is on Skeen, where is yours? Tweet @AlexNewsZA
