The hard-tackling right back, who joined Amakhosi this week, will be

available for selection in the Vodacom Challenge final against Asante Kotoko at

Absa Park on Sunday.

Mtakwenda is expected to fill the void left by transfer-listed Jacob

Tshisevhe and will play a key role in the Chiefs defence of Nhlanhla Kubeka,

Patrick Mabedi and Cyril Nzama.

Meanwhile, Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral was sitting at his hotel room on

Saturday afternoon pondering his starting line-up for the clash Asante Kotoko

of Ghana.

The players had just returned from their final training session at Crawford

College in Umhlanga and the coach was not worried because of lack of players

but due to the fact that he did not know who left behind.

“Every training session has been very exciting,” said Ertugral. “The players

are oozing with confidence are they are ready to go.”

Durban was overcast and cool with temperatures down to 17 degrees, without

any signs of rain. All four teams were scheduled to train at the Absa Park but

Chiefs decided otherwise.

“The players are all relaxed,” said Ertugral. “And there’s no pressure at

all. The only problem now is that I do not know who do I leave out.”

Midfield ace Patrick Mbuthu and striker Daniel Matsau are and will also be

fighting for places in the starting line-up. But sad news for Amakhosi

supporters is that new signing Shaun Permall from Ajax Cape Town would not be

making his debut on Sunday. “The deal has been concluded but the player is not

with us yet,” said Ertugral.

With the famous Durban July horse racing taking place a few kilometres from

the Amakhosi base, Ertugral was not even thinking of giving his players time to

attend the race. “We are not here for horse racing,” said Ertugral. “We are

here to do a job and if the players want to see the race they can watch that on

television.”

The players will however, have a brief relaxing exercise with a walk on the

beach. Ertugral said the only celebrations will come after “winning against

Kotoko.”

“It is very important for us to win this cup for our sponsors. Pirates are

out of contention and the onus lies with us,” Ertugral said.

Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates coach Gordon Igesund took time off to attend the

horse racing at Grayville.

“Hopefully we can finish third,” said Igesund. “It’s important for Pirates

as this is good preparation for us before the start of the season. This game

will give me the opportunity to try a few new youngsters.”

Former under-23 star Steve Lekoelea will not be back for another six weeks

or so following a knee operation.

The third place play-off kicks off at 12:05 due to television coverage and

the final follows at 15:30.

According to tournament director Emy Casaletti-Page there only 8 000 tickets

left at 14:00 on Saturday. Tickets are available at Ticketweb countrywide and

supporters who did not have tickets were advised not to go to the

stadium.