Supersport United lift Absa Cup
Brad Morgan
30 May 2005
Supersport United put the cherry on top of a sensational season in knockout competitions when they edged Wits University 1-0 to lift the Absa Cup at Olympia Park in Rustenburg on Saturday.
The victory was worth R2.5-million to Matsatsantsa, and it also booked a place for the Pretoria-based side in next season's African Confederations Cup.
Lungisani Ndlela's goal on the half-hour decided the contest. After Abram Raselemane had done good work down the right flank, his pinpoint cross found Ndlela, who needed only to tap in from point blank range to put Supersport ahead.
Pitso Mosimane showed that his coach of the year award was well deserved as United dominated play, despite the close scoreline. They nearly went two-up early in the second half, but Mozambique international Tico Tico Bucuane hit the side netting with a header.
Worries late in the game
United were given a few worries late in the game when
Edward Williams was sent off for elbowing Benson Mhlongo in the face.
Despite being a man down they held on for the big money prize, although Reagan Noble nearly pulled the Students level in injury time, firing just over the crossbar from close range after a defensive error.
Supersport played three cup finals in the season, the others being the SAA Super Eight Cup, which they won 1-0 over PSL champions Kaizer Chiefs, and the Coca Cola Cup, which they missed out on when Chiefs edged them 1-0.
For Wits, the defeat brought the curtain down on a sad season. The Clever Boys were relegated from the PSL for the first time since they won promotion to the top flight in 1975.
However, 24 hours after losing the Absa Cup final a silver lining may have appeared in the Students' cloud.
Sponsors buy out Silvers Stars
The club's sponsors, Bidvest, have bought a 51% stake in financial strugglers Silver Stars, who finished seventh in the
PSL standings. What it means is Bidvest have bought Stars' Premiership status for what is estimated to be about R10-million.
It also means that Wits' Mvela Golden League status will go up for sale.
The new club will be made up of players from both Silver Stars and Wits University. It will keep the name Silver Stars, at least until the owners decide otherwise. Stars' coach Owen da Gama will take charge, while Wits' coach Roger Da Sa will be bought out of his contract.
One of the big bonuses for Bidvest is that Stars' seventh place finish in the PSL qualifies the club to play in the SAA Super 8 competition. A good run there would help the company recoup some of the money it paid out for the Silver Stars' franchise.
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