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RSSC walking tight rope against ’Downs

30/08/2013 01:27:00 BY DUMISANI NTIWANE

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Tonight
Mavuso Sports Centre:
(Manzini Sundowns vs RSSC 7pm)

New Manzini Sundowns coach, Milton Dlamini, has been presented with a perfect opportunity to impress his new employers.

His team faces elite league rookies, RSSC in the opening game of the Trade Fair knockout tournament tonight. The teams will clash head on when the clock strikes 7 this evening and the Mavuso Sports Centre’s turf will be hardest hit, as each side attempts to proceed to the quarter-finals of the tournament. Dlamini and his charges should however tread with caution against the newcomers, who are capable of springing a surprise, especially since this is a knockout tournament. Sundowns cannot afford to be complacent despite the fact that very little has been seen of the rookies in preseason, as they preferred to play a majority of their preparatory matches at their own backyard. It could have been a fatal mistake, as the team’s players could take time adjusting to the Mavuso Sports Centre. That, however, should not make Sundowns, who are used to playing at this venue, complacent.

As earlier stated, this being a knockout tournament anything is possible even though the odds seem to favour the ‘Kappa Kappa’ ensemble. They have won this tournament four times since 1990 and the history books favour them ahead of the league’s newcomers who are yet to play in the final of the tournament.

SUNDOWNS

Coach: Milton Dlamini
Captain: Regan Steenkamp
Key players: Pride Zendera, Muzi Gule and Phindafuthi Dlamini
One to watch: Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze – Signed from Manzini Wanderers in preseason, Sikhondze will be eager to prove that Sundowns did not make a mistake by signing him. He is likely to be deployed just behind the strikers a position he thrives in, as he is in a position to create or rattle the net himself.

RSSC

Coach: Manfred Chabinga
Captain: Menzi Mamba
Key players: Sitali Mulife, Banele Dlamini and Fezile Mbukwane
One to watch: Menzi Mamba – This midfield gem, arguably the best replacement for retired midfielder Kaizer Zwane shoulders RSSC’s hopes in tonight’s clash.
A master schemer, he operates in the heart of the field, just in front of his back four where he thwarts any move by the opposition, while also initiating attacks for his team. The complete midfielder with a Midas touch, his form tonight will go a long way in shaping his team’s destiny.