Durban – AmaZulu coach Craig Rosslee has played down the possibility of scoring a glut of goals against minnows Tembu Royals, insisting that victory is the most important thing on his mind ahead of their Nedbank Cup last 32 showdown in Umlazi on Wednesday.
Usuthu have been goal-shy this season, netting just nine times in 19 Premiership games, and are entrenched in the relegation zone.
Their league tally is eight fewer than bottom club Chippa United and one less than top scorer Bernard Parker, who has already found the back of the net 10 times this season.
“The important thing is the win,” Rosslee said ahead of the match.
“Yes, the goals do bring confidence for the strikers, but the fact of the matter is if you win 1-0 or 3-0, a win is a win, whether it’s in the cup or the league.”
The Durban club will be wary of an embarrassing upset and potential early exit from the competition, after reaching the semi-finals last season.
Orlando Pirates were stunned 4-1 by another lower league side, Maluti FET College, at the weekend, while Chippa lost to First Division outfit United FC.
“I think I learnt a great lesson from the game between Pirates and Maluti,” Rosslee said.
“Each and every year the Nedbank Cup produces results like this. I recall Baroka against Chiefs last year and now this.
“If you walk on the park and you think you've won the game before it has even started, then you’re in trouble.
“So for us it’s a cup game and we want to make sure we get through to the next round.”
The former Ajax Cape Town coach, whose side are unbeaten in three matches in 2013, insisted that the game was not a distraction from their league campaign.
“They are obviously two different competitions. There’s a two-week break in March and we don’t want to be sitting idle there, which will happen if we are out of this tournament.
“But the big picture does remain the league, although a cup run does add value to such an objective because it gives everyone an opportunity to play now.”
Royals coach Lwandile Magula said his players were relishing the prospect of facing their top flight opponents.
“We are very excited to be at this stage and are looking forward to showing the talent that we have here in the Eastern Cape,” Magula said.
“We know it will be a big challenge to progress far in this competition but we will give our best.”
Elsewhere on Wednesday, in the last matches of the opening round, Black Leopards host Cape Town All Stars in Polokwane, and African Warriors face Jacksa Spears in Phuthaditjhaba. – Sapa