Pay back time
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday January 27, 2017 15:14
The two teams are developing into fierce foes and United, as the defending champions, need to be above their best to beat a marauding Rollers.
While Orapa have laid their hand on the trophy once, Popa also have one title but appeared and lost in the final on three consecutive occasions. But since their final loss to Orapa, Rollers have had the better of the miners, winning 2-0 last season before last Friday’s demolition.
Popa are currently on cloud nine, with their new mentor, Mogomotsi ‘Teenage’ Mpote blowing in a breath of fresh to galvanise the Mma Masire club.
Mpote has won his two games since taking over from Mark Harrison, where he has seen the side score seven goals and concede just two.
He has brought a new dimension that has unchained the players and allows them to express their flair.
However, it rests upon Madinda Ndlovu and his side to prove the past defeat was just a bad day in office.
United would rue their change of tactics in the past encounter and would probably revert to their single out and out striker instead of deploying two as they did with Zebron Njobvu and Omaatla Kebatho.
They would also probably revert to the tripartite attacking midfield of Lemogang Maswena, Tendai Nyumasi and Patrick Lenyeletse to feed the lone striker and might also be tempted to introduce their fresh acquisition, the mercurial Gift Moyo.
However, Ronald Chikomo remains the most important piece of Ndlovu’s puzzle. The Zambian international has developed a penchant for the Mascom Top 8 cup.
He was the most instrumental player in the Ostriches road to success last season and remains the only player to have won the cup three times.
United’s assistant coach, Zacharia Mudzadzi said their past encounter is water under the bridge and are aware of the impending challenge.
“Our aim is to defend our cup and keep representing ourselves and the north very well,” he said.
“Our opponents are hungry for this cup after losing three consecutive times in the finals and we cannot afford to take them lightly.” Township Rollers coach, Mpote also appreciated that cup clashes are a different ball game and the approach will also be different.
“This is a cup game and obviously we will approach it differently from the past game.
It’s a two legged game. We are starting away and we would want to capitalise and therefore we will go all out,” he said.