Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Mandla Masango’s prayers for a Soweto Derby final have been answered, as both Soweto teams will face off at Moses Mabhida Stadium for the Nedbank Cup trophy on May 10.
Amakhosi shocked the football community by defeating Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in the semi-final match on Sunday, thus ending a 13-match winless run against the Brazilians in all competitions. Their last victory was in April 2021 in a league game.
Orlando Pirates, on the other hand, defeated Marumo Gallants to book a spot in their third successive Nedbank Cup final and are eyeing to lift the trophy for the third time in succession.
The Soweto giants will first meet on May 3 in a Betway Premiership match before shifting their focus to the final that is set to take place in Durban.
The Glamour Boys last lifted this trophy in 2013 when they edged SuperSport United 1-0. Their most recent appearance in the final of this competition was in 2019, where they were shocked to a 1-0 loss to then-second-tier team TS Galaxy.
Masango advised the players and the technical team to maintain their focus as they still have a big task ahead of them.
“The focus needs to be there because it’s not all over yet. We haven’t won anything. So, they just need to keep their head on the ground, focus and work hard towards achieving that goal,” he said in an interview with Mahlatse Mphahlele.
“They just need to maintain that standard that they just recently set for themselves. I think the coaches and management know how to handle those situations.
“You know, as players sometimes we get carried away, and you need people to tell you that you must remain humble, even though you’ve achieved this feat at this current moment but continue to work hard.
Rising star Wandile Duba scored the equaliser before he was substituted in the 80th minute for Ashley Du Preez, who netted the winning goal. Masango praised the 20-year-old’s work ethic, adding that he might be the solution to the club’s goal-scoring problems.
“Duba is a player who has a lot of potential. As a country, we have a problem of scoring goals, and as young as he is, he’s got a big heart,” Masango explained.
“If you can recall, there was a goal that he scored, he put his foot on the line, and he nearly got injured again. Seeing such performance from a youngster, a Kaizer Chiefs product, I’m really proud.
“At first he played wide which he played well but that’s not his strength, watching him from the development ranks, he used to play as a number nine and he makes good runs, he’s arrogant as well because you need that sense of arrogance on the field so that you don’t get overshadowed by big defenders he’s very much mobile and also he has a good eye for goals,” he concluded.