Telkom Knockout Final: Sundowns vs Maritzburg United – as it happens
Three-time winners Mamelodi Sundowns will have to overcome Maritzburg United if they are to lift the Telkom Knockout Trophy in Durban on Saturday.
Telkom Knockout Final
The match kicks off at 18:00 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in what is the Team of Choice’s second ever cup final and a chance for the pride of the Kwazulu Natal Midlands to lift their first major trophy.
United are expected to set up to frustrate the Brazilians and hit them on the break but that approach will require that the Team of Choice buckle down for some hard graft if they want to get their hands on the Telkom Knockout Cup trophy.
“With the quality and experience Sundowns have, whether it’s the starting line-up or the bench, it’s about us working hard, working together as a team. In order to beat them, you’ve got to win the individual clashes and work harder than them,” said Maritzburg United’s Bandile Shandu said.
Born and bred in KZN Shandu would like nothing better than to raise the TKO trophy in front of the Blue Army in Durban.
“Please carry on coming in numbers,” he said, “we will work very hard to give something back to the fans – they truly, truly deserve it, the way they stuck by us last season. To give them this silverware would mean a huge amount to them.”
United were edged out 2-1 by Sundowns in their last meeting, a league clash back in September. The last time they beat the Brazilians was a 3-1 victory in the Nedbank Cup in April 2018.
In 30 previous matches, the Team of Choice have won six and drawn six while Sundowns have won 18 times. Sundowns have won the Telkom Knockout on three occassions but only once since it adopted its current name.
Down chase cup glory
Mamelodi Sundowns skipper Hlompho Kekana spoke about the respect that Downs have for their in-form opponents:
“Maritzburg is a very very dangerous team at the moment, they are high on confidence and they have won their last three matches, which is something we have to be concerned about. We must go into the final with huge respect for them.”
“We want to make sure we contain a few of their players and try to score goals because obviously you have to score goals to win the trophy.”
Kekana also spoke on the potential benefits of having key players rested during the exceptionally busy December period but insisted Sundowns were focused on winning the trophy.
“We are trying so hard to stay focused on the mission which is to try and win trophies.”
“We have learned over the years where we have used so many of the same players in many games, this time around we have tried to bring in everybody to help the team. When I look at the team everybody is ready to help. I hope when Saturday comes everyone who has rested comes together and brings the team to where it should be, we want to win the trophy.”
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