The Ghanaians appeared to have taken assistant coach Doctor Khumalo’s warning that Pule was to swallow them lightly or perhaps they were confused by the midfield wizard’s new hairstyle – ginger patches as opposed to his usual clean

shave.

Man of the match Pule came from the World Cup highly motivated and made his presence felt after just 46 seconds to put Chiefs in the lead as he connected to a cross from Arthur Zwane down the right and raced towards the Asante goals

for the opening goal.

Pule menacingly kept the Asante defence busy throughout and a substitute’s

appearance at the World Cup (against Slovenia) appeared to have spurred him on.

It was the second time the two crossed paths and Chiefs once more stamped their

authority over the Ghanaians. In last year’s final played at Absa Park in

Durban, Chiefs needed penalties to dispose of the Porcupine Warriors.

When Asante pulled a goal back just before halftime it appeared as though the

game would need a penalty shoot-out to break the deadlock. Not quite, Pule

appeared to be in no mood for the lots.

It would also seen that Doctor Khumalo had delivered his pre-match media

briefing message to Pule that he was to swallow the Porcupine Warriors. A slow

build-up by Chiefs ended with a spectacular goal by Pule who fired from 30

yards with a fine right-footer crashing against the upright before landing into

the net.

There was only one new face on the Chiefs line-up with former Moroka Swallows

defender Peter Matshitse. Cyril Nzama deployed in midfield but later moved to

his usual position in the second half.

Chiefs also made a double substitution at the beginning of the second half to

neutralise the Asante threat with captain Godwin Ablordey leading the attack.

Baloyi was seriously tested on 27 minutes as Ablodey fed Shilla Alhassan who

released a cracking shot only for Baloyi to push the ball away for corner.

Kotoko pulled a goal back towards the end of the first the first half with the

Chiefs defence seemingly taking the break much earlier. A feeble clearance by

Isaac Mabotsa and the Chiefs defence at see with Brian Baloyi off his line

defender Gary Goldstone tried to clear with a diving header but his effort was

too little too late.

Chiefs will now face DR Congo side FC Lupopo in the final. The DRC side

following their 4-3 penalty shootout win against the home side – the result

which also dashed any hopes of a Pirates vs Chiefs final in Durban next Sunday.

It will Amakhosi’s third appearance in the final and victory on Sunday will see

them keeping the kudu horn trophy as it will be their third title win in this

competition.

Teams:

Asante Kotoko: Osei Boateg, Aziz Ansah, Daniel Acquah, Joe Hendricks, Abass Inusah, Godwin Ablordey, Mohammed Hamza, Nana Arhin Duah, Frank Osei, Shilla

Alhassan, Godfrey Yeboah.

Kaizer Chiefs: Brian Baloyi, Stanton Fredericks, Gary Goldstone, David Kannemeyer, Arthur Zwane, Isaac Mabotsa, Justice Sithole, Jabu Pule, Peter Matshitse, Thabo Mooki, Cyril Nzama.