Nedbank Cup draw pits PSL sides against each other

JOHANNESBURG - There were no classic David versus Goliath fixtures in the last 32 draw of the Nedbank Cup – a tournament were the lower division clubs fancy their chances against those in South Africa’s elite league.

Instead there were some uncomfortable cup ties for the big boys, such as Kaizer Chiefs hosting Golden Arrows, Orlando Pirates preparing to welcome back Muhsin Ertugral for the first time since the Turk notoriously quit his job on TV and took over as Ajax Cape Town coach in December.

SuperSport United, the defending champions, will travel to Bloemfontein Celtic, a side that not so long ago dumped them out of the Telkom Knockout.

Bidvest Wits will also host Cape Town City, sides coached by Gavin Hunt and Benni McCarthy respectively, in a fourth meeting between the two sides already this season.

Those are the stand out games, and are perhaps a bit more nerve wrecking for the sponsors, who would rather see the Premier League outfits come up against the minnows to have an advantage for a passage through to the next round.

The dates and venues will be announced in the coming days, but the opening round of the Nedbank Cup is staged for early February.

“We were hoping to ease ourselves into the competition, but now we have to do it all over again against the big boys. Good for TV and the fans, but not us,” said McCarthy in a brief interview as he reacted to the draw.

Hunt said: “They have beaten us three times already this season, so they have the advantage.”