Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United will square it out in the Tshwane derby of the season at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday with both teams looking for bragging rights.
The Pretoria-based sides have brought out their ‘A-game’ in past Tshwane derbies although Sundowns have maintained their dominance over their neighbours.
Heading into the derby, Sundowns are top of the table with 36 points, enjoying a six-point lead over second-placed Orlando Pirates, while SuperSport are down in 11th, some 20 points behind their cross-town rivals.
However, anything can happen on derby day and to win the match, key battles will have to be won. Afrik Foot highlights the key duels to watch out for in the Tshwane derby on Wednesday.
Vincent Pule vs Teboho Mokoena
Midfield is the area where the game will be won or lost and there is a key battle expected between SuperSport’s Vincent Pule and Teboho Mokoena of Sundowns.
Pule has been one of the bright players for Matsatsantsa since joining from Pirates, with two goals and as many assists in 15 games, acting as the team’s playmaker, and he will be expected to provide creativity through passes in the final third.
The man to watch him and ensure he does not threaten the Sundowns defence will be Mokoena who has become a key cog for the Brazilians as he sniffs out the danger, enabling the back four to play without worry.
Christian Saile vs Grant Kekana
Another battle to look forward to is between attack and defence with recently-signed Christian Saile set to give Sundowns centre-back Grant Kekana a hard time.
Saile has wasted little time to make his presence felt since joining from Kaizer Chiefs last month as he scored on his debut last week and will be itching to do more damage to Sundowns in the derby.
Saile’s direct running, physicality and aerial presence will put Kekana to great test and the Sundowns defender will have to be on the lookout to ensure the Congolese does not create havoc.
Siphesihle Ndlovu vs Lucas Ribeiro
One of the men with the most difficult task in the derby is SuperSport central midfielder Siphesihle Ndlovu who will be the man tasked with keeping an eye on Sundowns’ playmaker Lucas Ribeiro.
Ribeiro has been a menace this season with his passing, movement, goals and assists creating problems for opposing teams and for SuperSport to have any footing in the game, the Brazilian will have to be stopped.
The Brazilian has 10 goals and eight assists in 25 games this season, scary statistics for SuperSport, and they will need a man to track his every run in the derby, a task likely to fall on Ndlovu.
Nyiko Mobbie vs Aubrey Modiba
Full-backs will also play key roles in the derby and SuperSport right-back Nyiko Mobbie will provide a test to Sundowns’ left-back Aubrey Modiba.
Coach Gavin Hunt has allowed Mobbie freedom to bomb forward and act as an extra weapon in attack and this will be a challenge for Modiba who will have to contain both the full-back and winger from SuperSport, making it fascinating to watch.
Eric Mbangossoum vs Iqraam Rayners
Meanwhile, SuperSport’s Chadian defender Eric Mbangossoum has a tough task of containing one of the league’s leading scorers in Iqraam Rayners, who has netted 13 goals in 23 matches this season.
Rayners’ goals have dried up in recent matches but he has been acting as playmaker, creating space in the box for his team-mates like Peter Shalulile and Ribeiro to attack, and should be a handful for Mbangossoum in the derby.
The former Stellenbosch striker also has a great poacher’s instinct which has left defenders flatfooted and Mbangossoum has his work cut out on Wednesday.
