Casric Stars coach Bax Mthombeni warns of the Ides of March for AmaZulu in the Nedbank Cup clash. Photo: Sipho Siso
AmaZulu FC has been warned to beware the Ides of March as it locks horns with Casric Stars in the semi-finals of the Betway Premiership’s richest cup tournament, the Nedbank Cup, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on March 7.
The warning comes from the chairman-cum coach of giant-killing Casric Stars, Bax Mthombeni, when he addressed soccer scribes at the Nedbank headquarters on Rivonia Road, Sandton, on March 5 ahead of the sem-final matches this weekend, which includes clashes betweenSekhukhune United and Milford FC at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
On March 8, the semi-final battles turn to TS Galaxy and Jacksa Spears at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in KwaMhlanga, with final semi-final game taking place at the King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu Stadium in Durban, featuring a KwaZulu Derby between unpredictable Lamontville Golden Arrows and a stubborn Durban City.
Mthombeni said although AmaZulu are a good side with respectable and equally good coach, Arthur ‘10111’ Zwane, that does not equate to his side’s relinquishment of its now famous tag of giant killers, after they disposed of the inform and marauding Mighty Buccaneers in the last 16 round of the competition.
“AmaZulu must beware of what’s coming its way in March. We still want to maintain our now famous tag of being giant killers, which has already elevated Casric Stars to another level of fan support as club branches are opening thick and fast in Mpumalanga now. A small team could be in line to win the Nedbank Cup as happened back in 2019 when TS Galaxy won it from the lower division then,” Mthombeni said.
There are currently three lower division sides still in the running for the podium finish of the Nedbank Cup, those being Casric Stars, Milford FC and Jacksa Spears, with the first two plying their trade in the Motsepe Foundation Championship under the Premier Soccer League, and the last team in the ABC Motsepe League of the South African Football Association.
With those three sides still in the running for honours, Mthombeni said anything is still possible any of the three lower division sides can make it to the final and possibly still win the trophy.
“The run we have had so far is good for the brand, coach and players, and we just need to stay humble and focus on the game if we’re to beat Usuthu and advance to the final,” Mthombeni said.
He said the possibility of winning the Nedbank Cup has not diminished the team’s objective of fighting hard to obtain automatic promotion to the Betway Premiership. That’s still our fundamental objective but the lush cup prize money can come in handy for a struggling team like ours,” Mthombeni said.
TS Galaxy assistant coach Bernard Parker hopes the return to KwaMhlanga venue will bring good tidings to the team. Photo: Sipho Siso
TS Galaxy assistant coach and former Kaizer Chiefs marksman Bernard Parker, standing in for suspended Bosnian coach Adnan Beganovic after picking up four yellow cards, admitted his side has not been doing well in the premiership but ‘we take consolation on our good run the Nedbank Cup and we cross our fingers to reach the final’.
“We hope our return to our old base at KwaMhlanga will bring us good tidings in our games at this venue. If we go all the way to win the trophy, this will serve as motivation for the boys to pull up their socks in the premiership games and finish in a decent league spot,” Parker, a former player at The Rockets after leaving AmaKhosi and now coach, said.
Sekhukhune United coach Eric Tinkler still dreams of reaching the final of the Nedbank Cup and winning it. Photo: Sipho Siso
Sekhukhune United coach Eric Tinkler bemoaned the lack of rest and recovery time for his side as it returned from Durban against Durban City, saying match fatigue was taking its toll on his charges.
“My chairman will be happy to win the Nedbank Cup, which will pave our way to play in the Caf Confederations Cup hence we had been given a mandate to finish in Top 3 of the league as he was eager for us to venture into the Caf competition. That would be a great stride for us,” Tinkler said.
Tinkler, a former defensive midfielder for Bafana Bafana’s 1996 Caf Afcon winning squad, said despite the little preparation time he had for this game, his charges were motivated enough to the best they can under the circumstances, which includes going to the final of the cup competition with the aim of winning it.
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