The Sunday Mail
SEASONED Zimbabwean goalkeeper Washington Arubi once again proved that he not yet over the hill when turned on a blinding show between the sticks to inspire his Tshakuma Tsha Madzivhandila to a stunning victory over fancied SuperSport United in the Nedbank Cup round of 32 encounter at Thohoyandou Stadium Thursday night.
TTM secured passage to the last 16 via a 61st minute goal by Thabo Mnyamane who arrived on the near side of the area to slot home a first-time cross from out wide.
Arubi who has been handed the captaincy at TTM thwarted everything that SuperSport threw at him as his side rallied for a 1-0 victory that sent Kaitano Tembo’s side tumbling out of South African football’s richest knock-out tournament.
The former Dynamos goalkeeper’s heroics left his countrymen Evans Rusike and Kuda Mahachi in the SuperSport attack a frustrated pair on the night.
Tembo, who side has previously won the Nedbank Cup, which also guarantees its winners a ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup refused to blame his charges but felt they had paid the price for failing to take their chances and for some wrong decision-making in the final third.
SuperSport arrived for the match among the favourites to win this season’s Nedbank Cup having won two of the last five competitions.
They are also enjoying a 10-match unbeaten run in the league.
But their Limpopo adversaries, with revenge for a 2-0 league defeat uppermost their minds, certainly had other ideas and held out for their upset win.
Tshakhuma looked for the opener on 13 minutes through the far side from Thabo Mnyamane soon after having had a hand ball in the area on Keenan Phillips turned away.
Matsatsantsa created their first major opening from the edge of the area after the water break, but Thamsanqa Gabuza volleyed Sipho Mbule’s cutback over from a tight angle on the right-side.
The ball ended up in the net a minute after half-time from a curling strike by Mahachi following good footwork in the six-yard area from Mbule, but it was disallowed for offside by the assistant.
Vhadau vha Damani, however, bagged the opening goal on 61 minutes after Mnyamane arrived on the near side of the area to slot home a first-time cross from out wide.
It happened to be Mnyamane’s last involvement four minutes thereafter, as he made way for Lerato Lamola with debutant Rantie entering for Rhulani Manzini.
SuperSport could have gone level in the closing quarter from an attempt on the near side by Evans Rusike, but Arubi narrowed the angle with a solid block.
Rusike missed another clear chance six minutes to the end after he steered a delivery from the centre of the area wide of the bottom-corner following a deft first-touch.
Vhadau vha Damani gathered control soon after a nervy closing spell to see out the victory and a spot in the last 16 while SuperSport crash out at the Last 32 stage for a second successive season.
Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs forward Khama Billiat is set for a return to the pitch as the club issued an update on his progress after suffering an injury.
Billiat suffered a leg fracture last month and has since missed his side’s last six DStv Premiership fixtures.
The Zimbabwean international’s initial prognosis meant he would be out for two months, and a progress update from the club has suggested he is well on course in his recovery.
“Three and half weeks into his injury, Khama has started gym exercises and is now out of the boot,” said Chiefs in a statement on social media.
Amakhosi are set to host GladAfrica Championship outfit Richards Bay FC in the Nedbank Cup last 32 on Sunday and have also had Siyabonga Ngezana ruled out of action through suspension.
Coach Gavin Hunt further stated that Ramahlwe Mphahlele continues to struggle in his recovery from a hamstring injury but will undergo a late fitness test 24 hours before the fixture before a decision is made on his return to action.
“Rama is obviously still struggling with his hamstring, so we’re going to have to see. We’ve still got one or two more days. So, we’ll see how fit he is come Sunday, or more on Saturday than Sunday,” said Hunt in his pre-match Press conference. – Sports Reporter/kick-off.com
