Sport

Kaizer Chiefs lift Charity Cup

Brad Morgan

10 August 2010

President Jacob Zuma was on hand to see Kaizer Chiefs lift the Telkom Charity Cup at Johannesburg's Soccer City Stadium on Saturday, in front of a crowd of 87 000, surpassing the previous record attendance achieved at the final of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

It was a sweet victory for the Amakhosi. They defeated their great rivals Orlando Pirates in the final, triumphing 4-3 from the penalty spot after the teams had played to a 1-1 draw in the regulation 90 minutes.

It was also the final that most fans had wanted to see as it featured the most storied rivalry in South African football. Both teams reached the title-decider with narrow 1-0 victories in their semi-finals showdowns.

First game

In the first game of three played on the day, Pirates beat AmaZulu 1-0 to advance to the final. Both sides struggled to find their rhythm in the early going and the game came to life in the second half only.

It was decided on the hour-mark by Isaac Chansa who netted with a powerfully struck shot from 25 metres out.

The Usuthu created some opportunities of their own, but it was the Buccaneers who came closest to scoring again when Thulasizwe Mbuyane almost doubled their advantage just three minutes from time.

Second semi-final

In the second semi-final between Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, the Amakhosi profited from the finishing of one of their new signings, Sthembiso Ngcobo, from Free State Stars.

It appeared as if the contest was headed for a shootout from the penalty spot, but in time added on Ngcobo headed Chiefs into the final as Vladimir Vermezovic's charges were rewarded for asserting pressure in the last 10 minutes of the game.

After a shot by Knowledge Musona was parried by Calvin Marlin in the Sundowns' goal, Siphiwe Tshabalala picked out Ngcobo, who was on as a second half substitute, and he calmly headed home to set up the big Soweto derby in the final.

Final

Pirates were aiming for their third Telkom Charity Cup title in succession, while Chiefs were simply aiming to put one over their rivals, which is always motivation enough for both clubs.

In the battle for the silverware it was the Amakhosi who took the lead after 13 minutes when Lucky Khune, the brother of Chiefs' and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, struck.

After Isaac Chansa had been dispossessed, Siphiwe Tshabalala got the scoring move going when he fed Ncgobo. He then picked out Khune with a well-judged pass and the striker grabbed the chance with both hands as he smashed the ball past goalkeeper Moneeb Josephs into the top right corner of the goal to put Chiefs 1-0 up.

Pirates' reply came in the 55th minute from captain Kucky Lekgwathi. He got onto the end of a cross from Phenyo Mongala and beat Chiefs' goalie Arthur Bartman with a header taken with authority.

Penalty shootout

The focus turned to the goalkeepers when the match went to a penalty shootout and both men managed to save a kick each: in the second round of kicks, Josephs saved from Steven Ncanana, but Bartman immediately pulled Chiefs back into the contest by saving from Isaac Chansa.

After Tshabalala had netted to put the Amakhosi 4-3 ahead, it was up to Phenyo Mongala to keep the Buccaneers in the game, but he struck his spot kick high over the crossbar and Chiefs were the winners of the Charity Cup for the 11th time. They're the only club to be part of every edition of the event since it started in 1985.

Afterwards, Chiefs' coach Vladimir Vermezovic, while thrilled with the victory, cast an eye to the future when he said the most important thing about the Charity Cup had been to have an opportunity to give all his players a run.

Playing in front of such a big crowd and the president of the country, said Vermezovic, was an opportunity that would help his players to become better in the future.

Satisfied despite defeat

Pirates' coach Ruud Krol, despite defeat in the final, was satisfied with his side's showing. "We scored a good goal and we played well, I think, in the second half and then, of course, it came to the penalty shootout," he said.

"We were the champions of the moment when they missed their second, and (then) we missed the second and that was the chance (gone)," he shrugged. "And then we missed the fifth, and it's a pity."

New signing

Krol also gave new signing, the Nigerian Ezenwa Otorogu his stamp of approval. "I liked him. He's a target man. He has a good technique for a big man. He can hold the ball (up), he is quick. Of course, he is not super-fit, but he had a good performance," the coach said.

Otorogu has joined the Buccaneers from Tunisian side Club Africain. He previously played for Enyimba in the Nigerian Premier League and was the league's top scorer in 2008. Good things are expected from him in the new PSL season.

Before moving to Club Africain, Otorogu was courted by a number of other club's including Sudan's Al-Hilal, Danish side Aalborg, and Ajax Cape Town of the PSL.

International flavour

It was interesting to view international flavour brought to the event by the different coaches of the PSL's glamour clubs: Chiefs' Vladimir Vermezovic, from Serbia; Pirates' Ruud Krol, from the Netherlands; and Sundowns' Antonio Lopez Habas from Spain. It led to the rather amusing spectacle of Vermezovic translating for Habas when the Spaniard was interviewed after Chiefs had beaten Sundowns.

The infusion of international players and coaches into the PSL shows that the league is growing and on the back of the successful hosting of the Fifa World Cup the hope is that it will go from strength to strength.

Judging by the massive crowd that the Telkom Charity Cup attracted, the opportunity to grow is there. It's up to the clubs to provide the product that continues to draw fans. The Telkom Charity Cup was a good starting point for the new season. Just ask Chiefs' fans.