Kaizer Chiefs, who normally do not pay special attention to certain individuals in their duels, will this time abandon that tradition in the Vodacom Challenge final against DRC side St Eloi Lupopo in Durban on Sunday.

Speaking ahead of the bid clash, Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral singled out

Nsimba Lusaku and Karamba Musasa as the main threats to Amakhosi’s ambition to

annex the kudu horn silver trophy for a record third time.

“That number 3 . . . Nsimba is very dangerous with free-kicks and we cannot afford to leave him unchecked,” said Ertugral. “I know him from my days as

national coach in DRC but at that time he was still very young.”

Lupopo came to the south as unknown quantities but left a lasting impression

in their semifinal clash against Orlando Pirates, who were expected to progress

to the final. In the process the DRC side unmasked some of their talented

players who could secure contracts with some of the Castle Premiership sides.

Lusaku displayed great confidence and aggression against Pirates in the

semifinals and inspired the DRC side to a 4-3 penalty shootout victory after

the two sides were deadlocked 2-2 in regulation time.

Chiefs, who are short staffed in defence due to the injuries to utility

youngster Nhlanhla Kubeka (back in full training) and Malawian

international Patrick Mabedi, might be forced to make some tactical adjustment

to quell the Lupopo threat.

In their 2-1 semifinal win against crack Ghanaian side Asante Kotoko, Chiefs

played four at the back with defender Cyril Nzama adding the numbers in midfield

to complete a 4-5-1 system.

Ertugral admitted that Nzama was not as effective in that position by his own high standards, but that he delivered the goods as his role on the day was mainly to

stop Kotoko’s dangerman Frank Osei. The young Ghanaian left a lasting

impression on the Chiefs coach in the 2001 Vodacom Challenge finals and the

Amakhosi coach was not prepared to risk anything.

Nzama is likely to be retained as anchorman according to Ertugral to stop

the other DRC threat Musasa – the goalscorer against Pirates. “He is a very

good striker who is not afraid to take his chances. We will have to play Cyril

in midfield to deal with him but our plan will change as the game progresses,”

Ertugral said.

Lupopo’s Matonbodi Prfa will watch from the stands after receiving a red

card against Pirates while Tshama Mwana Mbuyi, who came on a second half

substitute and scored the equaliser, is likely to be given a run in the starting

11.

“They play more as individuals and if we win the ball quickly there will be

lots of spaces for us, and if we can exploit those spaces it will be a good game

for us,” smiled Ertugral.

Chiefs will experiment with their Ghanaian trialists Kofi Asamoah and

Stephen Owusu, recommended to Amakhosi by their club Asante. But the stakes

will be so high that Ertugral could elect to start with them and if the

strategy fails to work he could replace them later.

Pirates will fight for third place against Asante in the 12:30 kick-off at

Absa Park. The weather was partly cloudy and mild on Saturday and organisers

reported that over 20 000 tickets had already been sold through Computicket.