In the Chiefs team on that day was Derrick Spencer who helped put up the kind of performance that enabled The Amakhosi to take revenge on SuperSport for beating them in the SAA Supa8 Cup Final in 2004.

While Spencer was in the team when Chiefs made their last appearance in a Cup Final, would he be able to be in the team when The Amakhosi and Sundowns walk out on to the Vodacom Loftus pitch in front of a full house on Saturday evening.

Spencer has made it to the bench on two occasions this season, and was amongst the substitutes when The Amakhosi opened up their Telkom Cup campaign against Moroka Swallows back in September but he did not get to see any game time.

With a cup final on the weekend Spencer who has played in 73 games in five seasons with Chiefs going back to 2003 – 2004, would like for nothing more than to start in Saturday’s cup final. He does though feel given the fact that he has not played any matches it will be tough for him to start the game, he is though hopeful of playing some role for Chiefs on Saturday.

Ready and waiting

Derrick who turned 25 in May might not have played any matches this season, he does though have the belief that he is 100% match ready and can do the job for the team should he be given a run on Saturday. As he added “I have judging my readiness for the game base on my endurance in training, at this moment using it as a measuring tool for myself I will say that I am fit in enough and ready to slot easily into a game situation.

It has been a challenging time for me trying to find a gap in the team, I have worked extremely hard over the week and I hope that I get rewarded for it really it us up to the coach at the end of the day but I do think that I have put my case forward for a starting berth”.

Fighting on

For Derrick it has been a tough few months, but he remains committed to finding a spot in the starting eleven, as he believes that with continued hard work his time will come. As he explains, “when you a player in a competitive environment like Chiefs you got to be willing to fight for a place in the team, personally I believe that my time will come soon enough I just need to continue knocking on the door”.

Derrick also would like to continue playing under coach Muhsin Ertugral as he continues on, “I get along very well with the coach and I enjoy his open door policy which has meant that I can go up and talk to him at any time. I have spoken to him about my role within the team and we have come to a number of conclusions together and he has reassured me that I am in his plans, and he has spelt them out to me so I will continue working my way towards getting back into the starting eleven”.