IT IS generally agreed that derbies are hard-fought encounters that can go either way. Very rarely is there an outright favourite when teams from the same city lock horns because the pride that is at stake ensures that both teams raise their game to levels often unexpected.
We saw it last weekend when Kaizer Chiefs matched an on-form Orlando Pirates that was expected to play them off the park, the Buccaneers only winning the match at the death via a penalty goal.
We have yet another derby on Wednesday when Mamelodi Sundowns host SuperSport United in a Betway Premiership tie that is often tightly-contested, while produces ample goals.
Sundowns, the defending league champions who enjoy a six points lead atop the table from second-placed Pirates, will trot onto the pitch as massive favourites. Not only are they in great form but they are playing against a team that just can’t do much right.
Gavin Hunt’s SuperSport are a mess at the moment. They go into the match on the back of a 2-1 defeat at inconsistent AmaZulu this past weekend and are on a three-match losing run in the league. The Brazilians, on the other hand, will be cock-a-hoop following their 4-0 hammering of Golden Arrows – their fifth successive victory in the Premiership.
Speaking after the victory over Arrows, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso lamented the hectic schedule his team has to face and spoke of how little training he is having with his team, given their back-to-back matches. He has been going to mainly recovery sessions, he explained, prior to the clash and then has been putting together a team he believes will be good enough to get them three more points.
Adding to Cardoso’s concerns, will be the possibility of his players underestimating a wounded animal. After all, SuperSport are struggling and fast appearing to be the kind of team set to merely donate points to Sundowns.
“I don’t worry at the moment nothing about Pirates,” he said. “I just worry about SuperSport .
“Just now, I told my assistant coaches, ‘please sit and see the players we have for the training session, and call the coaches from the second team to see which players can join us for training so we can make progress with the team’.
(Tuesday) we have a a 20 players training session to prepare for SuperSport and only when we are finished with SuperSport, will we worry about what’s coming after.”
Former SuperSport player Kegan Johannes is eagerly anticipating the match in the hope he gets to be involved.
“Preparations for the derby are going well. It is obviously the Tshwane Derby and derbies are difficult because you don’t know what to predict and what can happen.
“We are looking at ourselves and not the log position of the opposition. We have to go in there well prepared for everything.
“It is a very intense match, there’s obviously bragging rights at stake and the three points as well. It is most important for us to go out there and reach our objective.”
Johannes is yet to make a mark at Sundowns since joining from their crosstown rivals but he is patiently working his way towards becoming a regular with the champions.
“It’s been a magnificent stay so far. I came in with an injury, so there’s been a mental side that I had to get over.
“I am fit now and getting match fitness takes time. But with the bunch of great players we have, I can only grow as an individual and as a footballer.”