Siyanda Xulu of Maritzburg United and Sinethemba Jantjie of Free Statre Stars during the Absa Premiership match between Maritzburg United and Free State Stars at Harry Gwala Stadium. (Photo by Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images)
Phakaaathi’s Khaya Ndubane and Jonty Mark give their views on who will win on the day, and why.
Why Maritzburg will win (Khaya Ndubane, Online Content Manager)
Stats certainly do not favour Maritzburg going into this match, having only registered just four wins in 20 matches, but they do have the momentum going into this match. They gave Stars a 3-0 drubbing away in Bethlehem when the teams last met in January.
The Team of Choice also showed that they mean business in this competition when they beat Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 in the semifinals.
Maritzburg coach Fadlu Davids stated earlier this week that his team was underdogs, arguing that some of the players in the Stars side have been to cup finals before. This might be correct, but it could also be a ploy from him to take the pressure off his players going into this final.
But everyone knows that Maritzburg can beat any side in the Premiership on their day. Maritzburg players are hungry for success and they want to make history by becoming the first Team of Choice side to win a cup competition. And I think this hunger will drive them to victory today.
It certainly going to be a closely contested affair that will be decided by an odd goal and Maritzburg will edge Stars in the end.
Prediction: Maritzburg United 2 Free State Stars 1
Why Stars will win (Jonty Mark, Phakaaathi Editor)
Free State Stars have had an incredible season under the wise guidance of Luc Eymael, the Belgian coach coming in just a couple of games into the 2017/18 campaign and taking a team that battled relegation last season to a sixth-placed finish in the Absa Premiership, and a place in Saturday’s Nedbank Cup final.
It was a bit of a struggle for Ea Lla Koto through the early stages of the Nedbank Cup, as they battled to beat Super Eagles in extra time in the last 32 and then only got past Ubuntu Cape Town in a penalty shoot out in the quarterfinals. They showed their class, however, in stunning Kaizer Chiefs in the semifinal, and that should stand them in good stead for Saturday’s showpiece event.
There is no real favourite for this match against Maritzburg United at the Cape Town Stadium, with the Team of Choice only finishing just above Stars in the final league standings. Stars, however, do have more experience in their ranks, with the former Orlando Pirates duo Patrick Phungwayo and Rooi Mahamutsa having a fine season in their back four.
Captain Paulus Masehe has also been around for a long time, and it would be a great personal achievment for him to finally notch a winner’s medal with Stars. In goal, Thela Ngobeni has been in inspired form and if he can carry that on today, Eymael’s side have every chance of winning.
In attack, meanwhile, Harris Tchilimbou showed in the last four against Akakhosi just how dangerous he can be in front of goal.
It will probably be a tight affair in Cape Town, but I am going to go for a narrow 2-1 win for Stars, who are aiming for a first trophy since they lifted the 1994 Coca-Cola Cup.
Prediction: Maritzburg United 1 Free State Stars 2
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