Former AmaZulu and Bafana Bafana striker George Dearnaley says he has a feeling AmaZulu’s “name might be on the cup” ahead of Saturday’s MTN8 final and that former Orlando Pirates striker Gabadinho Mhango could come back to haunt his former club.
Dearnaley, 53, was part of the AmaZulu when they lifted their last trophy in the Coca-Cola Cup (now Telkom Knockout) in 1992, being one of the goalscorers in the 3-1 win over Kaizer Chiefs.
Ahead of Saturday’s MTN8 final – AmaZulu’s first ever – iDiski Times caught up with Dearnaley, who expects a tight affair at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
“I think tactically it will be a really tight game. With Pirates losing the derby last week, they might be mentally a bit more defensive, more negative and the attitude and the attitude not to lose the game rather than win the game,” he told this publication.
“AmaZulu will also be cautious because it’s the first cup final in a long time, players may be not used to it, scared to make a mistake.
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“So I think both teams will be almost ‘negative’ and maybe it’s a midfield battle and one mistake or one moment of brilliance can separate the teams – one goal like in the derby maybe.
“But in South African football, you never know what’s going to happen. It could be a 4-3 but I think it will be tight, just one goal or maybe extra-time and penalties as well.”
When asked for a score prediction, the ex-striker said the game could last longer than just the 90 minutes, while also revealing that he has a feeling this might be Usuthu’s year.
“My score prediction would be a draw and penalties, if I had to put my head on the block,” he continued.
“I think Pirates are the favourite, though. But I have a feeling that AmaZulu’s name is on the Cup. It’s one of those things, I’ve got this feeling that maybe this is the year. They did win the league in 1972, we won the Coca Cola Cup in 1992 and now it’s 2022. The big successes of the club have come in years that end with the No.2.”
Dearnaley also believes that Gabadinho Mhango could come back to haunt his former club and score the deciding goal on Saturday.
“The ex-Chiefs players had a good game in the semi-final [vs Chiefs]. I thought a lot of the guys had good games,” he added.
“There are players in that AmaZulu team that are so-called ‘rejects’ – ex-Chiefs, ex-Pirates players and that’s always an incentive. When you’ve rejected or moved from a club and you play against them, you’re always up for it.
“I remember when I played for Seven Stars, the first time I played against AmaZulu I couldn’t wait to beat them and score against them and I scored against them when we knocked them out of the Rossman’s Cup. I’m an AmaZulu supporter but it was one of my best goals in terms of what it meant to me.
“So there is an extra little edge to the game for some of those ex-Pirates players at AmaZulu. And Mhango is a good striker. I don’t understand how Pirates let him go. He is a great signing for AmaZulu, if anyone can score the winning goal in a cup final it can be him.”
Story by David Kappel (@kappilinho).
