It was not the fact that they lost to Chiefs, it was more the way in which they lost that irked the Cosmos team as a 5-0 defeat in a cup final is something that no side will want to remember and is a score line not often seen in knockout soccer finals.

The 2002 edition of the Coca-Cola Cup has provided the Ezenkosi with an ideal opportunity to lay the ghost of last year aside. A 1-0 golden-goal semi-final victory over Manning Rangers saw Cosmos qualify for their second successive final against Chiefs, who beat Ajax Cape Town by the same score.

Club owner/coach Jomo Sono is confident that his side will give Chiefs a better run for their money this time around.

"It's a bit too early to get excited. Chiefs can obviously not still live on the memory of last season's final. I think it will be a lot closer this time, but we will be backing ourselves to lift the cup."

To do that, Cosmos will need to be at their best against a rejuvinated Amakhosi side that has strung together a run of four games without defeat under care-taker coaches Doctor Khumalo and Ace Khuse.

The two former Chiefs and Bafana Greats took over from Muhsin Ertugral when he was temporarily placed on leave and Chiefs have not looked back since.

As has been seen throughout this competition, Saturday's match at the FNB Stadium is not only about Chiefs against Cosmos. There is plenty more excitement for soccer fans, who are urged to get their tickets well in advance through Computicket.

Godfrey Mbingo, Coca-Cola Senior Brand Manager said that fans wanting to see this showpiece of South African soccer should buy their tickets early to avoid disappointment.

"With a game of the calibre of Chiefs against Cosmos and with all the activities we have lined up, we expect the house-full signs to go up on the day," said Mbingo.

Coca-Cola has offered school children across the country the opportunity to lead their favourite players onto the field for this thrilling game in a once in a life time experience.

The Coca-Cola Player Escort Program is aimed at Primary School children between the ages of 10-13 based in Gauteng.

"For this year’s Coca-Cola Cup we promised that the tournament would have something for everyone. South African’s are passionate about soccer and we recognise that young fans are just as important and devoted as adult ones," said Mbingo.

"We felt that the Player Escort program would allow our young soccer lovers to share in the excitement of the beautiful game. Through the Player Escort Program we will not only give 22 youngsters the unique opportunity to meet their soccer heroes but also to bring back something special for their school," said Mbingo.

Coca-Cola will make sure the day itself will be a memorable one. Children, accompanied by a teacher, will be collected from their school in the morning and taken to the stadium were they will be kitted out in Coca-Cola gear, then onto the field with the teams.

But it is not only the children who will have a special day. The first 20 000 people in the stadium will receive the best prize there is - a free Coke!

On the day, another great soccer competition will be launched with the curtain raiser for the main match being between the under-17 sides of Safa Vaal and Safa Eastern Gauteng.

Coca-Cola has been sponsoring the under-17 Youth Challenge for more than 30 years and this year’s competition will take place at the University of the North in Polokwane between December 10 and 14. All Safa's 25 provinces will participate and a team from USSASA will bring the number to 26. Full details will be given to the media at the Coca-Cola Cup Final.

The Coca-Cola Pop Stars will provide the musical entertainment for the day.

Another great innovation at this year’s competition is the Goals for Charity Program. Teams scoring more than two goals in a game will earn R10 000 per goal of which half will go to the teams nominated charity.

To date three charities have benefited – Khayelitsha Children’s Home receiving

R10 000 from Ajax Cape Town after beating Sundowns 3 – 1 in the Last 16 round, Tumelo Home for the Disabled receiving R5 000 from Jomo Cosmos who beat Hellenic 3 – 0 in the first Coca-Cola Cup game of the season and R5 000 went to Hayani Hospital from Black Leopards who beat African Wanderers 3 - 0.

Manning Rangers beat Bush Bucks 3-1 in the quarterfinal match and must still forward their nominated charity to Coca-Cola.

If Cosmos or Chiefs score more than two goals in the final, another charity will benefit. So there will be plenty of charities that are hoping for a 5-4 result! But which way – that is the question!