Vasco get plum draw in Cup
Task
VASCO DA GAMA aren’t sure whether to be elated or disappointed after yesterday being drawn to play Black Leopards in the quarter-finals of the Ned- bank Cup.
While, on the one hand, National First Division (NFD) side Vasco are happy to have, once again, avoided a top-flight opponent, fellow-NFD team Leopards are a really tricky prospect.
The Limpopo Province club dumped Premier Soccer League (PSL) giants Kaizer Chiefs out of the competition in the previous round – and, what’s more, Vasco have yet to beat Leopards this season, after losing both home and away league fixtures against them.
Making matters even worse is the fact that, having been drawn to play away, Vasco face an arduous trip up north, where Leopards’ pitch in Thohoyandou is not in great condition – and has developed into a bit of a graveyard for visiting teams.
The other quarter-final ties see Ajax Cape Town home to Wits, Mpumalanga Black Aces hosting Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United welcoming Golden Arrows to Pretoria.
Vasco coach Tony de Nobrega insists that his men will go out there and give their all. The team from Parow defeated Second Division Winners Park and NFD Maluti FET College in the two previous rounds.
“Obviously, we have to be upbeat because we will again be playing a NFD team,” said De Nobrega. “But it will be tough up there. We also have to remember that they beat Chiefs, so they will be on a high. But we will fancy our chances, especially as we have an idea of what they are all about. We lost to them twice in the league, so we know what to expect.
“And our place in the quarter-finals is already an achievement in itself. We’ve never been this far before, so we will give it our best shot. At this stage of the competition, anything is possible…”
Leopards’ recent resurgence has coincided with the arrival of former coach Zeca Marques – and De Nobrega is looking forward to matching tactical wits with the former Moroka Swallows mentor.
The Ajax-Wits tie throws up even more intriguing sidebars.
The Cape club’s coach Roger de Sa had a long association with Wits as a player and coach. He played for the Joburg club from 1997-2001 and enjoyed two spells as head coach – 2001-2005 and 2007-2012.
In turn, Wits’ coach Gavin Hunt will make the trip back to his home town. Having played for Hellenic in the Cape for many years, Hunt has gone on to great success as a coach in Gauteng.
Both clubs have a number of ex-players in their ranks too. Ajax have Erwin Isaacs on loan from Wits, while Toriq Losper, after a disappointing loan spell with the Joburg club, has since returned to the Mother City.
Wits, meanwhile, have a few former Ajax players in Moeneeb Josephs, Sameehg Doutie, Thulani Hlatshwayo and Dillon Sheppard.
“I’m just happy for the home draw,” said De Sa. “Playing in the Cape gives us an advantage… It will still be a tough game, though, but I have two or three weeks to prepare the squad.”
Ajax captain Travis Graham agreed with his coach: “It’s a good draw because we are at home, that’s always an advantage. We have an opportunity to go all the way in this competition, but, for now, we will focus on Wits.”