AmaTuks coach Kwanele Kopo eyes playing in the Caf Confederations Cup next season and that can only be done with winning the Nedbank Cup. Photo: Sipho Siso
Whatever the outcome may be in the Nedbank Cup clash between AmaTuks and Hungry Lions at the Mxolisi Dicky Jacobs Stadium in Upington, Northern Cape, the only guaranteed item is that there will still be a team from the Motsepe Foundation Championship in the round of 16.
The two teams from the Motsepe Foundation Championship will battle it out for a spot in the next round of 16 when they clash on February 8, with kick off set for 15H00.
Only seven points separate the two teams on the championship log, with the Lions holding a bigger share of 28 points from 17 games played so far, with eight wins, four draws and five loses compared to AmaTuks’ 21 points from 17 games and carry half of Lions’ total wins but with a massive nine draws and a game less on loses compared to the Lions.
AmaTuks coach Kwanele Kopo, who believes that very little sets the two sides apart in the championship standings, is keeping his fingers crossed for a triumph over the Lions, which he believes will open a good start of their campaign in the cup they so eagerly wish to annex to pave their participation in the Caf Confederations Cup next season.
“We have set ourselves a target of going all the way in this cup tournament which has come to be known as a competition of the Davids versus the Goliaths of South African football as its pits teams from Safa’s ABC Motsepe League and the Motsepe Foundation Championship, [the latter being a precursor to the Betway Premiership division].
“If we can overcome this first hurdle, I am certain we can navigate our way safely for a passage to annex the Nedbank Cup and make history for ourselves,” Kopo told a packed press conference of soccer scribes at the headquarters of the Premier Soccer League in Parktown, Johannesburg.
In the previous competition, Kopo noted that AmaTuks was bundled out by Mamelodi Sundowns with a slender victory in the quarter finals. “If we can repeat last season’s miracle run and take it even further to finally win the cup, I will appreciate it as it will open our first time participation in the Caf Confed Cup,” Kopo said.
Soweto Super United M17 FC, which is better known as SSU M17 and plys it trade in the Safa lower division leagues, will be up against Milford FC at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on February 10.
SSU M17 coach Thabang Chauke calls on Sowetans to come in their numbers to cheer their side to victory against Milford FC. Photo: Sipho Siso
SSU M17 coach Thabang Chauke described his team as a results driven side and said he was confident that players will do the job on the day against Milford FC and make a name for themselves.
“We’re a results driven team and our chairperson wants nothing less than a win. A draw is not acceptable and a loss is even worse. The team and staff, whether technical or otherwise, live and eat together at the team village and this to ensure we manage the lifestyle of all team members and officials to ensure we get maximum results and compliance to the requirements from all of them.
“We hope to move as far as possible in the cup tournament as per our philosophy of being a results driven outfit. I call upon the people of Soweto to pack Dobsonville Stadium to the rafters on February 10 and cheer their team to victory against Milford FC,” Chauke said.
TS Galaxy, better known to its fans as The Rockets, will entertain another Betway Premiership side Marumo Gallants at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium on February 8 while Betway Premiership side Sekhukhune United travels to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in the Eastern Cape for a clash with Motsepe Foundation Championship side Highbury FC tomorrow [February 7], with kick off set for 15H00.
The Rockets’ Bosnian coach Adnan Beganovic wants to emulate the 2019 squad of TS Galaxy that won the Nedbank Cup. Photo: Sipho Siso
The Rockets’ Bosnian coach Adnan Beganovic said as much as his side will welcome home Gallants, he expects a tough game against a fellow premiership side. The Rockets are former winners of the Nedbank Cup in 2019 when they stuned a mighty Kaizer Chiefs to victory. “As former winners of the cup, we’re determined to repeat history and go all the way to the cup winners podium in this tournament,” he said.
Sekhukhune United coach Eric Tinkler also eyes the Caf Confederations Cup continental sojourns next year. Photo: Sipho Siso
Sekhukhune United coach Eric Tinkler, whose side hit several bumps in the Betway Premiership games, has vowed to come back to the form they showed in several games at the beginning of the season last year.
“We want to bring back those winning runs we had at the beginning of the season, especially in this [Nedbank] cup as we also look forward to participating in the Caf Confed Cup next season. But before we can dream on that, we all need to pull up our socks and strive to get the necessary results to achieve our Caf ambitions, and that starts with bringing positive results,” said Tinkler, a former winning squad member of the 1996 Bafana Bafana Afcon champions.
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