WITH three of the Cape’s four Nedbank Cup hopefuls at home in this weekend’s Round-of-32 action, none of the hosts are in a generous mood.
Cape Town Spurs entertain Baroka, Stellenbosch have Swallows over, while Cape Town City roll out the red carpet for Royal AM.
Only Clarewood JPM are away, making the trip to Thohoyandou to face Mpheni Home Defenders for an all-ABC Motsepe League clash at 3pm on Saturday.
Kicking off the action in the Mother City tonight are Spurs and coach Shaun Bartlett warns they will rock Baroka Bon Jovi style at Athlone Stadium, saying: “This week when I was in the gym, listening to Bon Jovi’s This Is Our House.
“Nobody is gonna come here and rule. That’s the mentality and hopefully the players show that in the match.”
On Saturday, Stellies keep the ball rolling in Athlone, where they will look for their first ever Cup win when they take on Swallows.
Coach Steve Barker, who took unfancied AmaTuks to the 2009 final, says the team are looking to kick on after recently breaking a nine-match winless run in the league.
Looking for a third win in a row in all competitions, he adds: “We went nine games without a win in the league recently. So hopefully that cup run will end too.”
Finally in the 6pm clash on Sunday, City will be looking for revenge against PSL rivals Royal AM, who knocked them out of the Cup in KZN at this stage last season.
Coach Eric Tinkler warns his side: “It’ll be a difficult match with [coach] John [Maduka] back in charge. He was there when they beat us last season. We have to be at our best.”
Weekend’s Nedbank Cup fixtures
Friday: CT Spurs vs Baroka (3pm), Maritzburg United vs Kaizer Chiefs (7.30pm)
Saturday: Black Cross vs Venda, Golden Arrows vs PTA Callies, Stellenbosch vs Swallows, Mpheni Home Defenders vs Clarewood JPM (all 3pm), All Stars vs Pirates (8pm)
Sunday: AmaZulu vs Tornado, TS Galaxy vs Amavarara, Mkhambathi vs Casric Stars (all 3pm), CT City vs Royal AM (6pm).
