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Stars will shine - Evans
Posted Fri, 12 Dec 2008

Ajax Cape Town captain Brett Evans reckons stars will shine when the 'Urban Warriors' and Orlando Pirates clash in Saturday's Telkom Knockout Final at Chatsworth Stadium in Durban.

Evans, who is one of the real unsung heroes of South African soccer, believes there is no better place for players to showcase their talents than in a cup final.

On that score his 'Bucs' counterpart, Lehlohonono Seema, agrees: "This is the ideal platform for players to show off their talent."

Evans, who has represented his country at every level from SA under-17 to Bafana Bafana where he has earned 10 caps, is the glue that holds the side together. He also believes the 1-0 Absa Premiership win over 'Bucs' played at the Johannesburg Stadium last Saturday night, was the result needed to lift Ajax's confidence.

Said Evans: "We needed that win. It was so important to beat Pirates at the home and go into the final one up on them psychologically. There is a huge self belief among the players that we can do the business on Saturday night and win the final."

Evans, as a 20-year-old, was in the side that played Pirates twice in cup finals in 2000. He explained: "We lost to Pirates in the Top Eight Cup but beat them in the Rothmans Cup that year. So this will be the third time we meet each other in a final."

But Evans conceded that the cup final will be different to last weekend's league encounter: "This is a one-off and unlike in the league, it is different in that there has to be a winner."

Seema, the Lesotho national captain, was quietly confident and said concentration was the key to success. "We need to focus. Ajax must forget about the league win. The players and coach spoke about it and it is history. We had suspensions and injuries last time we met.

"We will have a new team out in the final, so there is not that much they can draw from their win over us. But what it did do was keep us on our toes and make us realise what a dangerous side Ajax are. They showed that this is going to be a closely fought final."

Evans said it will be in midfield where he believes Ajax have the edge. "For me we have Dipsy Selolowane who plays in an attacking role.

He has been a big help to me by giving me superb support."

Selolowane is no stranger to responsibility as he captains his country Botswana. Others who Evans rates highly are the two wingers, Franklyn Cale on the left and Sameehg Doutie on the right.

Said the 'Urban Warriors' skipper; "Doutie has fantastic skill and is one of the best crosses of the ball in the PSL. Cale is deadly, just ask any of the Bafana defenders who have marked him. They reckon he is a nightmare to pin down. Add in our strikers Sifiso Vilakazi and Mabhuti Khenyeza and our hard working defence who will help win the day, or as it is the night for us."

Seema said the fact Pirates go into this final as underdogs suited them. "We have no problem with the underdog tag. Ajax by virtue of beating us at home in the league, have earned the right to go into Saturday's game as favourites."

But he said the hunger in the camp is strong: "I have not won a cup, neither have any other players in the squad, so we are up for the challenge and aim to end that eight year drought where Pirates have not won any cup competition."

Sapa