Mhofu wants Nedbank Cup

complete their fairytale Nedbank Cup run on a high note by upstaging favourites and South African Premiership soccer kings Orlando Pirates when the two sides square off in today’s final.
The David versus Goliath showdown is set for the Mbombela Stadium, one of the venues of the 2010 World Cup in Nelspruit at 3pm before an expected 43 000 sell-out crowd.
Chidzambwa, winner of several titles with domestic giants Dynamos, said although they face a tough task, he wanted his charges to capitalise on their underdog tag and upset the Buccaneers who are on a high after dramatically winning the Absa Premiership title on the final day of the season.
Although Chidzambwa has been to several cup finals during a long coaching spell in Zimbabwe, it is the first time that he has guided a foreign team to such a stage and this afternoon’s encounter also presents the Black Leopards players with their first opportunity to shine on such a grand stage.
Chidzambwa, speaking from Nelspruit where his First Division side have been camping ahead of today’s match, said although he was relishing the prospects of denying Pirates a memorable treble, he was aware that it would not be an easy afternoon.
Mhofu, who guided the Warriors to their first appearance at the African Cup of Nations in 2004, revealed that he was, however, “a little surprised” that nobody in South Africa was giving them a chance, a negative perception which he felt Black Leopards could use to their advantage and stun the Premiership champions.
Pirates, African Champions in 1995, have already bagged the MTN 8 Cup apart from the league title they snatched from under the noses of Ajax Cape Town who looked to be winning the championship until they capitulated to a 2-2 draw against Maritzburg United at home.
Chidzambwa, however, insisted that his underdogs would not go down without a fight if they were to lose to Pirates as they were also eyeing history for the club.
“The boys are very excited. It is the first time in their history to be in the Nedbank Cup final and it gives them a chance to make history for themselves and for the club and it can be done.
“Obviously we are the underdogs but we are encouraging them (the players) to go and enjoy the game and fight for a good result,” Chidzambwa said.
The seasoned coach, winner of eight league championships with Dynamos and a host of other cup titles with the popular Harare giants, said he was surprised that Black Leopards had “been written off” by all the pundits.
“Everyone here, including the media, has written us off and they are all saying that Pirates are going to complete a treble and others are even saying the treble has already been won . . . it is as if the match has already been played yet we can only know after the final whistle.”
The Nedbank Cup has a knack of producing shocks, especially in the knock-out stages with little-known Baroka’s triumph over Kaizer Chiefs being one of the biggest shocks of this year’s tournament.
Despite an aura of excitement having reportedly engulfed the Lidoda Duvha camp ahead of today’s final, Chidzambwa reckoned that it was business as usual for him, having been to similar stages before.
The veteran coach also made history in 1998 when he led Dynamos to the Champions League final which they eventually lost 4-2 on aggregate to ASEC Mimosas of Cote d’Ivoire.
“To me it is normal. It is just the same as the previous cup finals I have been to so it is business as usual, and it is nothing new really.
“What I have noticed though with the football here is that it is actually more difficult to play against First Division sides. There is a lot of running and it can be physical in the First Division.
“In fact, you cannot predict the outcome of such matches because there is a lot of kick and rush football and they fight a lot . . . They really fight until the end.
“But it is a lot different when you are playing against Premiership teams and you can either match them or they can outplay you but it is a lot easier to see it. We know that Pirates are a very strong team and that is why they are PSL champions but we are determined to give it our best shot and we will not bow our heads down in shame even if we lose the game but make no mistake, if we are going to go down, it will not be without a fight,” Chidzambwa said.
Despite a host of Zimbabwean players plying their trade in South African leagues, neither Pirates nor Leopards will have a Zimbabwean on the pitch today.
But for Chidzambwa, taking a modest club like Leopards to the Nedbank final is a big achievement for a coach whose credentials had been questioned by some in South Africa after a short and winless spell at Premiership side Free State Stars at the start of the season.
The Nedbank Cup winners will also get a ticket to represent South Africa in the African Confederation Cup, which would be a rare feat for a team that is in the country’s second tier league should Leopards claim the trophy.
Chidzambwa will also have the Premiership promotional play-off to take care of after today’s final with Leopards still in with a strong chance to play in the top-flight next season.
Although Chidzambwa admitted Leopards were not under any illusions about the tough task they face against a Pirates side that has some experienced players like Bafana Bafana second-choice goalkeeper Moneeb Josephs, skipper Lucky Lekgwathi and midfielders Andile Jali and Diane Klate, the coach’s task of motivating his charges was made a lot easier amid revelations yesterday that Lidoda Duvha had tabled cash incentives for their players.
The winner of the Nedbank Cup gets R6 million and reports from South Africa yesterday indicated that the players had been promised half of that amount if they beat Pirates.
Leopards will only have Malawian international Harry Nyirenda as the notable absentee from the final due to suspension.
But they still have Nyirenda’s fellow Malawian and former Monomotapa defender Robert Ng’ambi who is their captain.