Sekhukhune United will rely on the experience of the decorated career of Sibusiso Vilakazi when they face Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final at sold-out Loftus Stadium on Saturday (18:00).
This is because this is the first time Sekhukhune are in the cup final and so is their coach Brandon Truter, with the club only featuring in their second season in the top flight.
Vila, who joined Sekhukhune in the second half of the season, won a plethora of trophies with Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits respectively, including three Ke Yona Cups in those clubs.
The 33-year-old insisted they will look to coach Brandon Truter for inspiration, as well as to assistant Morgan Gould, who seven trophies during his career.
“I think the most important thing is to be guided by the coach, Brandon, because he is very talented, very gifted and also of course coach Morgan Gould,” said Vilakazi.
“I mean he has been decorated with many trophies. His experience, his cups that he has won, will be able to influence [us], not only for myself, but for myself to guide and try to help.
“We have to give motivation because this is the last trophy for the season and last trophy for the team which is making history, and the history is for us to take it all the way.
“But I think the guys are excited, nervous also, being controlled and not taken by the moment of playing the cup, not playing the atmosphere but playing the cup.”
The former Bafana Bafana attacking midfielder has participated in the four Nedbank Cup finals previously, winning three of them. He won it with Wits in the 2009/10 season against AmaZulu, being involved in the history maker as that game was the first match played at refurbished FNB Stadium before the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals.
Vilakazi followed that up with another in the 2019/20 season with Sundowns, when they beat Bloemfontein Celtic. Then it was last season with Sundowns when they beat recently relegated Marumo Gallants.
Interestingly, the only final loss Vilakazi felt in this cup was when Wits lost to Pirates in the 2013/14 season at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. Even though he was denied this trophy, Vila was still the best player in the country, scooping the PSL Footballer of the Year award.
That was the last time Pirates won this cup, despite reaching two cup finals afterwards, losing them both to SuperSport United.
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Vilakazi is wary of Pirates, who he feels have had a good season this term, finishing second and having won the MTN8 in November.
“It is a team that has finished second on the log table, they have got the best momentum, they have won the MTN8 Cup, [were] able to qualify for the CAF Champions League, high momentum in that team, exceptional players who on a day can be selected for the national team,” said Vilakazi.
“They are few individuals that need to be taken [care] off on the day but will prepare thoroughly.”
Interestingly, these two teams will also meet in the MTN8 quarter-finals next season after Sekhukhune finished seventh.
