JOHANNESBURG – Four SAFA division teams will stake their 2018 Nedbank Cup claims over the weekend when they set out to secure passage to the last 16 round.
Steenburg United from the Western Cape will host North West’s Orbit College on Saturday at Parow Park Stadium while SAB League side Marivane United from Limpopo will host the Eastern Cape’s Bees on Sunday at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Although all four head coaches believe that they can reach the last 16, they are wary of their opponents. They all know that this tournament has produced giant-killers and anything can happen.
Orbit College head coach Pogiso Makhoye believes that their strength will be sticking to their normal game.
“We are already in Cape Town to acclimatise and preparations are going very well. We believe that we can make the last 16 because we will stick to our usual game plan and not focus too much on the opposition.
“We are confident that we can win this match because we are playing a team that plays the same standard of football as us, because we both play in the ABC Motsepe League. The team which is hungrier will go through,” said Makhoye.
SAB side’s Marivane United Head Coach Tapfumaneyi Dodo believes they have a very tough match in the last 32, as they will face ABC Motsepe League side EC Bees.
“Our preparations are going very well. We are working on motivating the players because Bees play in a higher league; so they will most likely take the game to us. We believe we have what it takes to make it to the last 16, we will just have to work hard on Sunday,” said Dodo.
EC Bees Head Coach Vuyisile Njendu is also wary of his opponent and believes that they will have to stay focused to get past their opponents.
“We are anticipating a tough match against a SAB side, we must make sure that we stay focused throughout the match, and try not to concede early,” said Njendu.