JOHANNESBURG – Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Pule Ekstein says he and his teammates are not bothered by their unflattering record against Baroka FC ahead of the two sides going head-to-head in the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup on Saturday night.
The Limpopo outfit famously knocked Amakhosi out of the same tournament during this stage of the competition back in 2011, when they were still only campaigning in the third tier of South African football, beating them 2-1 to reach the semi-finals.
It’s been Bakgaga’s claim to fame.
Chiefs did eventually manage to beat their bogey side earlier this year, having failed to do so in three previous league matches.
“What happened then only counts as the past and has nothing to do with the future,” said midfielder Ekstein on Wednesday afternoon.
“I don’t think the players even talk about it. There are different players in the team now and we don’t let that affect us at all. We are focused on winning the game on Saturday.”
Chiefs will host Baroka in Port Elizabeth at the Nelson Mandela Stadium during the Easter weekend as they could not use their home ground at the FNB Stadium or the Moses Mabhida Stadium, their alternative in Durban, because of Good Friday events.
Pule Ekstein: I am not happy with my progress, but I am working on it. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
Ekstein also hopes for some game time to help Amakhosi reach the last four.
“I am honestly not happy with my progress, but I am working on it,” he said, before looking to coach Steve Komphela’s direction and handing him the microphone to explain why he isn’t playing him.
The player has made sporadic appearances for the club this season and has punched below expectation, but somehow continues to be a fan favourite.