Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns will put their league title aspirations aside this weekend when they face each other in a highly-anticipated Nedbank Cup Last 32 clash set for Orlando Stadium on Saturday night.
Pirates lead the Premiership standings with 50 points from 24 matches, while Sundowns are three points behind in third place after a resurgence in the last two weeks which has brought them back into championship contention.
Both teams’ coaches said they would have preferred to avoid each other at this stage, even though the scale might be tipped slightly in Pirates’ favour after having beaten Sundowns in both of their league encounters this season.
For Pirates, this is a first hurdle of completing a possible Cup double to add to their MTN8 triumph earlier in the season.
“The draw could have been a little easier. It’s difficult for both teams but we have to face them,” said Pirates coach Ruud Krol, enjoying a 16 match unbeaten streak.
“It was bad luck for both teams I guess, because we could have been drawn a bit later but I suppose it makes football unpredictable.”
Sundowns’ coach Ian Gorowa supported his counterpart.
“If both teams had a choice, we would not have been playing each other. For us, it is important that we get a good result and play well in the game.”
Playing with confidence
Gorowa also said this was a better side, playing with some confidence, compared with the side which lost 2-1 to the Buccaneers in the league last month.
He was still concerned with the injuries and suspensions which have hampered his preparation this week.
Out injured are defenders Innocent Mdledle, Eduardo Ferreira and Matthew Booth, midfielders Papi Zothwane, Franklin Cale and Lionel Mutizwa and striker Richard Henyekane while Surprise Moriri and Elias Pelembe are suspended.
The return of lethal striker Katlego Mphela, from a self-imposed exile, has given the team a huge boost, with ‘Killer’ now tied as the leading goal scorer in the league with 11 goals in the season.
“For us, we are a bit disadvantaged because of the suspensions and injuries even though we want to do well in all the games we play,” Gorowa said.
“At the same time we are on a roll and are winning games so have some confidence.” — Sapa