Mlungisi Ngubane has boldly claimed that the much-anticipated Nedbank Cup final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, taking place on Saturday at Mbombela Stadium, will be decided by luck.
Newly-crowned DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns take on Nedbank Cup holders Orlando Pirates in a cup final for the second time this season, having met at the same stage of the MTN8 earlier this season at a wind-swept Moses Mabhida, where Bucs emerged triumphant via a penalty shootout following a goalless 120 minutes.
Ngubane, a man for the big games in his heyday for the likes of Durban Bush Bucks, believes there are no favourites in this afternoon's encounter as both teams have not been at their usual best lately.
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"In terms of the performance, I think both clubs are on the same level at the moment," Ngubane says, in a preview with this publication.
"Both Sundowns and Pirates are not at their best. The AFCON performance, together with the loss in the CAF Champions League semi-final, has affected Sundowns. Remember, they are also human.
"Pirates also were on a high, but then they started taking things for granted. Because of that, they lost two games in a row," adds the man affectionately known as 'Professor'.
Ngubane, however, still expects fireworks between the two giants of South African football, with plenty of fireworks on display, as is expected of a cup final.
"It's going to be a very good final. Whoever is going to be at his best will win. At their best, Pirates can win any game. It's the same with Sundowns. Pirates has closed the gap on Sundowns, but you know Sundowns have that luck of snatching wins even in difficult matches.
"But the way Sundowns are playing at the moment, they sometimes undermine their opponents by doing too many short passes at the back."
Cup finals are usually determined by small margins, with any mistake by either coach being punished. The legendary Ngubane struggles to predict which of Rulani Mokwena and Jose Riveiro will prevail on the day.
"Even the coaches in this one are on the same level. Whoever is going to bring the attacking mentality will win. If you attack Sundowns, they will crack. If you attack Pirates, they will crack. This is one game that will be decided by luck.
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"If you want to feed your opponents their own medicine you must play like them, you will see they won't cope."
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