Premier Soccer League: Orlando, Kaizer set for Telcom Knockout Final

The Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs have played in 20 combined Telkom Knockout Final matches between them but only once have they faced each other. For two of the top teams in South African football, the Telkom Knockout Final should be an epic clash of the titans.

Each club reached this point in contrasting fashion. The Chiefs struggled to get past Santos on Saturday night, winning by a score of 1-0. Head coach Vladimir Vermezovic has taken some criticism for his team's play and is currently brushing aside talk that his job may be on the line when Kaizer faces Orlando in the final.

"I'm happy to reach another Cup Final, but it was a very difficult game. We knew how they were going to play, they are a strong team. They have a lot of experience and they tried to kill our game but finally today luck was on our side," Vermezovic added, according to Kickoff.com.

Meanwhile Orlando blitzed by Maritzburg United 3-0 in the semi-finals that was aided by an own-goal by the opposition. Orlando Pirates coach Ruud Krol was complimentary to his team's efforts afteward, saying "I knew that my players had the mental toughness to pick themselves up and they did just that. The players believed in themselves and they have shown that Pirates is a big team."

But Krol knows what lies ahead. A loss earlier in the season to Kaizer will not be forgotten.

"I told the players at training on Monday, after the loss to Chiefs, that only big teams can bounce back from a defeat like that," said Krol at the post match press conference. "Sometimes I feel as if there are only two teams in South Africa. But that is not true, there are many good teams in the PSL. I'm happy to be in the Final. Two seasons ago we also made this Final."

The Telcom Knockout Final is scheduled for December 4, 2010.