Teams: Maritzburg United v Mamelodi Sundowns
Date: 14 December 2019
Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Mamelodi Sundowns will be chasing their fourth Telkom Knockout crown when they take on giant-slayers Maritzburg United in the final on Saturday evening at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The match will get underway at 18h00.
The Brazilians extended their already hectic schedule by reaching the final of the Telkom Knockout after edging Golden Arrows 2-1 in the semi-finals on 23 November.
The Tshwane giants have won the League Cup three times under different sponsors, the last of which was in 2015 after beating Kaizer Chiefs 3-1 in the final under the guidance of current coach Pitso Mosimane.
Masandawana, who were last in action on Wednesday after thrashing Stellenbosch FC 3-1 in the league, will be without utility player Rivaldo Coetzee who sustained an ankle injury in that match but they will welcome back talisman Gaston Sirino from suspension and Tebogo Langerman, Hlompho Kekana and Thapelo Morena, who were all rested in midweek.
Meanwhile, the Team of Choice will be aiming to win their first piece of silverware after upsetting Kaizer Chiefs in the semi-finals late last month.
The KwaZulu-Natal outfit will be hoping for better luck after reaching their second major cup final in just over a year and half, the first of which ended in a 1-0 loss to Free State Stars in the 2018 Nedbank Cup final.
However, United mentor Eric Tinkler does have experience of winning this trophy after leading Cape Town City to the title in 2016.
The Team of Choice, who have had a week's rest after beating Polokwane City 1-0 in the league last Sunday, will once again be without Jeremy Brockie, who is barred from playing against his parent club, but they will be boosted by the return of goalkeeper Richard Ofori from suspension.
Maritzburg: 31. Ofori, 5. Morgan, 36. Kunene, 45. Mngonyama, 23. De Reuck, 4. Allie, 8. Buchanan, 14. Claasen, 26. Shandu, 15. Timm, 19. Moseamedi.
Subs: 30. Mpandle, 3. Sanoka, 11. Jappie, 29. Mekoa, 13. Lea'alafa, 7. Kutumela, 17. Augusto.
Sundowns: 14. Onyango, 4. Langerman, 27. Morena, 2. Madisha, 15. Jali, 8. Kekana, 5. Lebusa, 18. Zwane, 21. Mkhulise, 10. Sirino, 9. Affonso.
Subs: 1. Mweene, 6. Arendse, 7. Lakay, 16. Ngcongca, 26. Makgalwa, 13. Mabunda, 11. Vilakazi.
