DURBAN - SuperSport United handed Lyle Lakay his professional debut, while Cape Town City gave him the platform to catch the eye of Mamelodi Sundowns for who he is currently playing.
With that in mind, surely Lakay should be a bit torn ahead of this weekend’s MTN8 final between the two sides at the at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday at 7pm.
The final is a repeat of last season’s tie which was won by SuperSport in the shoot-out from the penalty spot. While he acknowledges that both SuperSport and City played significant roles in shaping his career, the midfielder says it should be a no-brainer as to who he’ll be rooting for.
“Obviously I want Cape Town City to win,” Lakay said ahead of the highly-anticipated clash. “We are like a family with the majority of the guys at Cape Town City,” Lakay, who joined the Sundowns at the beginning of the season from the Citizens, explained.
“I grew up with the guys in the team. Obviously, with the help that Benni McCarthy gave me, I support them. Losing in the final with Cape Town City last year also adds to that. Hopefully, they can win. We (Sundowns) couldn’t go all the way, so hopefully they can.”
SuperSport have built a reputation as Cup specialist in the last couple of seasons and boast players with a pedigree of competing in high pressure situations. In the last five years they have won two Nedbank Cups, an MTN8 title and the Telkom Knockout.
The likes of Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Morgan Gould and Clayton Daniels will be key if United are to succeed. City will be no pushovers though, even though they are still the new kids on the block in SA football. In the three years of their existence, they have reached two Cup finals, excluding the one that they will be competing in this weekend.
📸🎥🗒🖌 #MTN8Final Media Open Day!
Head coach Benni McCarthy, Ayanda Patosi, Gift Links and Edmilson addressed the Cape Town media ahead of Saturday’s Cup Final clash vs SSU! #iamCityFC pic.twitter.com/uIL4vJs6xk
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) September 25, 2018
In their maiden season, they lifted their first cup at the expense of the same Matsatsantsa at Peter Mokaba Stadium when they beat them 2-1 in the Telkom Knockout. Last season, City also faced the same side in the final of the MTN8 but SuperSport emerged victors via a 4-2 penalty shootout.
So, expect nothing less than fireworks, drama and exhilarating action and the Citizens can count on the support of a player who surprisingly owes much of his success to the foundation laid by their opposition.