As anticipation builds for the Nedbank Cup semi-final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs, former Orlando Pirates midfielder Teko Modise has weighed in with his prediction.
Modise, who has played for Sundowns, believes his former team has a strong advantage going into the match this Sunday at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
Chiefs’ Hopes for a Final Spot
Kaizer Chiefs will be heading to Pretoria with the hope of reaching their first final in four years.
Despite their ambitions, the Chiefs have struggled against Sundowns this season, having lost all three previous encounters between the two teams.
With Sundowns’ dominance, Modise feels that Chiefs are unlikely to upset the odds.
Teko Modise’s Take on the Match
Modise, fondly known as “The General,” stated that Chiefs simply don’t have the right personnel to challenge Sundowns effectively.
He acknowledged, however, that football is unpredictable and anything can happen in a game.
“I don’t think they have the personnel to upset Mamelodi Sundowns, but we’ve seen remarkable things happen in football,” Modise told iDiski Times. “Just because you’re favorites doesn’t mean you’ve already won the game.”
Chiefs’ Strategy: Early Attack
Modise believes that Kaizer Chiefs will likely try to attack early, capitalizing on the energy they’ll bring into the game.
“I think Mamelodi Sundowns have to go out on the weekend to actually try and win the game, and Kaizer Chiefs will possibly try and use the energy because they don’t have a game in midweek,” he explained.
“They’ll try and use as much energy as they can and just try and get as early goals as possible.”
Given that Sundowns might return from international duty only by Friday, Modise feels the lack of preparation time could play into Chiefs’ strategy.
He added, “Knowing that Mamelodi Sundowns will possibly be back in the country by Friday, they won’t have enough time to actually train for that game.”
Sundowns the Favourites
Many football fans, including Modise, are predicting that Sundowns will continue their dominance and eliminate Kaizer Chiefs from the Nedbank Cup.
It’s shaping up to be an exciting match, but most believe Sundowns have the upper hand going into the weekend’s clash.