Of the five cup clashes that Chiefs and Ajax have contested since they met for the first time in knock out competition back in the 2000 – 2001 BP Top Eight Semifinals, on four occasions the winner has gone all the way to the final match of the season. So history could very much be on the side of the winner as they will be thinking that an appearance in the final is very much on the cards should they win what has been billed as the toughest of the opening round of matches.

Added to that is the fact that Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral has always made it to the final of a South African domestic Cup Competition, once his team have progressed from the first round. The indications or for those with a more superstitious outlook could well be having this strange feeling that the winner of the match between Chiefs and Ajax on Friday has a strong chance of finishing off as the 2007 - 2008 Nedbank Cup Champion.

Final beckons

Ajax after two of their three victories over Chiefs in cup competitions in the 2000 – 2001 BP Top Eight Competition and the 2002 – 2003 ABSA Cup, have made it to the Final match of those two competitions. But were beaten finalist by Orlando Pirates in the 2000 – 2001 Top Eight Final, while their Cape Town rivals Santos respectively beat them in the 2002 – 2003 ABSA Cup Final. While Chiefs who defeated Ajax in the 2002 – 2003 Coca Cola Cup Semifinals (now Telkom Knock Out), and the Quarterfinals of the same competition in 2003 – 2004, also progressed to the final of those competitions. In the 2002 – 2003 Coca Cola Cup Final Chiefs lost to Jomo Cosmos, while after beating Ajax in 2003 – 2004 they went to the Final and were 2-0 winners over Silver Stars (now Platinum Stars).

Fort ABSA

For Chiefs The ABSA Stadium has become something of a fortress of them and of their last five Cup Matches played at the stadium they have lost just one of those matches there, that being the 2004 – 2005 SAA Supa 8 Final. They have since September 2004 defeated Moroka Swallows in the SAA Supa8 Semifinals in 2004 – 2005 and 2006 – 2007, were crowned ABSA Cup champs at the venue in May 2006. They managed to exact revenge for their single defeat in five Cup matches at the ABSA Stadium which was a 1-0 loss to SuperSport United in October 2004, when they defeated SuperSport in the Final of the 2006 – 2007 SAA Supa 8 Final thanks to Rotson Kilambe’s lone strike.