Pitso’s mind games continue, Amakhosi want the cup
Pitso’s mind games continue, Amakhosi want the cup

Posted in News on Oct 19, 2006.

SuperSport United Coach Pitso Mosimane continued with his psychological warfare ahead of his team's SAA Supa8 Cup Final clash with The Amakhosi on Saturday in Durban.

When he addressed a media conference at the ABSA Stadium on Thursday, and as he did two days ago in front of the Johannesburg media, Mosimane began his psychological rhetoric by stating once again that the Cup Final meant nothing to him.

Mosimane had stated on Tuesday that he would prefer focussing his attention and energy on other football adventures such as winning the league, on Thursday he took it a step further by adding.

“For me personally getting to this final is good for my CV that’s it, like I said previously I would prefer to be achieving honours elsewhere like the African Champions league”.

Once more like he did on Tuesday Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp kept his distance and did not get drawn in by Mosimane’s games and said, “we all professional enough to understand the both sides will say things ahead of such an important game only to disrupt the opposition”.

As was the case in Johannesburg on Tuesday, the media conference ran into extra-time as Mosimane began drawing referee Daniel Bennett who has been appointed to officiate Saturday’s Cup Final into the fray.

Mosimane said: “I am happy with Bennett’s appointment as the referee for Saturday; I know he is a fair official and I am just glad that Jonas Nhlapho is not in charge of the game.”

Once again Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp refused to be drawn on the subject and commented: “When you start saying this and that about the referees and other unrelated issues, you are already looking for excuses the referee is not going to help us win or lose a game.

“We will win or lose depending on our desire to win the game, as well as our preparations before the game and I do feel that at the moment we have these two qualities available in abundance in our team.”

While Mosimane continues to play tricks with the media saying he is more interested in his teams PSL game against Orlando Pirates next Wednesday instead, Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp has insisted that winning the final means a lot to The Amakhosi.

“If you look at the way we have played in the games leading up to the final against Golden Arrows and then against Moroka Swallows we put in two excellent performances. To lose in the final will not be justice for us, winning Cups and titles is my mandate and if I win the same trophy ten times in a row I have no problem with that, and I think the players won’t mind and neither will the supporters”.

In other news relating to Saturday’s Cup Final the PSL’s head of communication Ntambi Ravele, did confirm that tickets for the final had sold out on Tuesday and that the game will be an all ticket affair.

“We must thank the fans for pre purchasing tickets as it has made it easier for us to complete the rest of the preparations for Saturday” said Ravele.

The PSL and South African Airways have gone to great lengths to ensure that fans attending the final, will be able to do so in a secure environment as The ABSA Stadium will have a ring of steel thrown around it, with the local police and various other protection services around the stadium to maintain order.

As Saturday draws closer and the war of words turns into a battle of tactics on the field of play, The Amakhosi at this stage have one thing on their mind and that is to bring home the R1.3 million on offer to the winners of the SAA Supa8 Trophy.

Chiefs showed that they mean business as they trained in wet and windy conditions late Thursday afternoon in Durban, and will be back on the training ground on Friday morning and evening, with the latter session taking place at the ABSA Stadium at around the same time that Saturday’s SAA Supa8 Final is set to kick off.

On a final SAA note SuperSport United PRO David Skosana otherwise known as Mazolman reiterated at Thursday’s media briefing, what he said on Tuesday in Johannesburg. That is, should Chiefs defeat United in Saturday’s Cup Final, he will streak naked from Durban to Tshwane (Pretoria).

Kaizer Chiefs’ Road to the SAA Supa8 Final

2006 SAA Supa8 ¼ Finals


Saturday 12th August 2006


FNB Stadium, Johannesburg


Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Nkosi 4’, Obua 58’ pen) Golden Arrows 0

2006 SAA Supa8 ½ Finals


Sunday 24th September 2006


ABSA Stadium, Durban


Kaizer Chiefs 2 (Ngobese 40’, Schalkwyk 103 min) Moroka Swallows 1 (Fransman 60’)

SuperSport United’s Road to the SAA Supa8 Final


2006 SAA Supa8 ¼ Finals


Saturday 19th August 2006


Vodacom Loftus Pretoria


SuperSport United 1 Orlando Pirates 1


SuperSport win 6-5 Aet on penalties

2006 SAA Supa8 ½ Finals


Saturday 23rd September 2006


Olimpia Park Stadium, Rustenburg


SuperSport United 2 Mamelodi Sundowns 0

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