Supporters of AmaKhosi Amahle and the Buccaneers still turned showdown into an all-Chiefs and Pirates players, with the exception of three players from the eThekwini side AmaZulu FC, despite the cup’s new format, which involved choosing the best players from the 15 teams in the Premier Division.
The three Usuthu players—as AmaZulu’s ardent supporters lovingly refer to them—are Ramahlwe Mphahlele of the senior team and Siphamandla Zikhali and Masibonge Ngidi of the reserve league Diski Challenge.
Even though this went against the spirit and essence of the cup, all that can be done is accept that the supporters have had their say and have chosen the players they think will perform best on January 6 at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium.
With four players from each of the Chiefs and Pirates and three from AmaZulu, the starting lineup is primarily made up of superstar rivals who will face off against high-riding, giant-killing Stellenbosch FC, who has defeated the Buccaneers twice in league and cup play.
Khune, Du Preez, Edson, the chiefs Along with the AmaZulu trio of Zikhali, Ngidi, and Mphahlele, as well as the Bucs’ Erasmus, Olisa Ndah, Jabulani Mokone, and Kagiso Mnguni, Daniel Castillo Garcia and Mfundo Vilakazi will be on the same Carling All-Stars roster.
Erasmus and Du Preez will spearhead the All-Stars’ offensive, while Castilo of AmaKhosi, Vilakazi, Mnguni of the Bucs, and Zikhali of Usuthu will occupy the midfield.
The two center backs for the Buccaneers will be Ndah and Mphahlele from Usuthu, while the fullbacks will be Ngidi from Usuthu and Mokone from AmaKhosi. Khune from AmaKhosi will start in goal, marking his tenth Carling Black Label Cup.
José Luis Riveiro of the Pirates will coach the All-Star team, reigniting his bitter rivalry with Steve Barker of the Stellies. The winners and runners-up of the previous season’s Diski Challenge will provide Riveiro with two assistants.
