New coaches in the firing line

By Hosea Ramphekwa

Mamelodi Sundowns may have lost some of their pre-season games but their real test comes on Saturday as they take part in the Telkom Charity Cup, starting at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on Saturday morning.

The Brazilians play Platinum Stars in the first semifinal of the Charity Cup at 10am while Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates meet in another appetising semifinal at noon at the same venue in North West Province.

For Downs and new coach Hristo Stoichkov, their duel with Stars will give them a real sense of how far can they go in their quest to bring the Absa Premier League title back to Chloorkop.

Today, Stoichkov, who got his work permit on Thursday, will be barking instructions to his charges. The game will also endear or endanger the 1994 World Footballer of the Year to Downs fans, who will want to see the agony they endured last year disappear into thin air. Stoichkov's record as a coach is not that impressive and the former Bulgarian skipper may get an opportunity to win his first silverware as coach.

New Downs signings Mabhuti Khanyeza, Gareth Ncaca, Papi Zothwane and Lebogang Mokoena are set to make their debuts on Saturday.

As the quartet will be looking to impress their new bosses, great performances are likely to be on display.

New Stars coach Steve Komphela will be looking at making a statement as his duties resume at the one-day four-team tournament.

In the other game, Pirates will be out to get after Chiefs, who beat them in the Vodacom Challenge last week. Pirates midfielder Joseph Kamwendo was on the scoresheet when Chiefs beat Pirates in a penalty shootout in Port Elizabeth last week. The Malawian international says he would like to score again to help Pirates win the tournament today.

'I hope we can do better than we did last week. It was special for me to beat Itumeleng Khune, a guy who denied the likes of Kaka during the Confederations Cup. I would like to add another goal and probably finish the game in regulation time,' said Kamwendo.

New Chiefs coach Vladimir Vermezovic, who has had some early pre-season success, is expecting a tough and physical game today.

'We know that they will be coming hard at us following their loss against us in the Vodacom Challenge. The Charity Cup for us is another opportunity to sharpen our arsenal before the season. The tournament will bring us closer to the combination we want for us going forward,' said the Serb.

• This article was originally published on page 21 of The Pretoria News on August 01, 2009