Cup is Pirates’ only escape from woe
Bucs need to lift Nedbank Cup to make something out of a dismal season, while Stars, Cosmos and Chiefs will march on to semi-finals Matshelane Mamabolo predicts
GOLDEN ARROWS v PLATINUM STARS @ PRINCESS MAGOGO STADIUM, 3pm
Abafana Bes’thende will have their tails up high having gotten here courtesy of a good win at Mamelodi Sundowns. And now that they will be playing at home, expect Clinton Larsen’s team to be all the more inspired. Arrows are currently in sixth spot on the League table and a place in the semi-finals will turn this into a memorable season. In Stars they come up against a team that is on the up. Following a poor start, Dikwena have found their rhythm and are not only through to the Caf Confederation Cup group stages but are slowly moving away from the relegation zone. They aren’t safe from the chop yet and Arrows will hope the worry of the drop will be playing on their opponents minds .
CHIPPA UNITED v JOMO COSMOS @ NELSON MANDELA BAY STADIUM
By being the last lower NFD side left standing, Cosmos have already over-achieved. But Jomo Sono has won this competition in its previous guises and he would have impressed on his team what it means to be crowned champions of the country’s premier knockout club competition. In the Chilli Boys they meet a team they will fancy themselves capable of beating and in all honesty, they probably should. It promises to be an intriguing clash with both sides exponents of open football, although Cosmos have it in them to shut the backdoor if the need arises. Bet on Ezenkosi pulling off another upset.
KAIZER CHIEFS v SUPERSPORT UNITED @ FNB STADIUM, 6pm
WHEN the draw was made, Steve Komphela acknowledged the fact that Stuart Baxter has Amakhosi’s DNA. He was implying that Chiefs will have to box clever if they are to overcome the team coached by a man who has a thorough knowledge of the Phefeni Glamour Boys. That might well be, but it would appear that Baxter has little knowledge of the team he currently is in charge of. Linked with a return to the Bafana Bafana coaching job, the Scotsman’s impending departure has got Matsatsantsa seriously rattled and even he admitted to struggling with getting through to his players. It’s a situation Komphela and Co will take full advantage of.
ORLANDO PIRATES v BLOEMFONTEIN CELTIC @ ORLANDO STADIUM, 8.30pm
THE Buccaneers’ 80th anniversary year is fast threatening to go down without anything to celebrate. And unless they win the Nedbank Cup, this milestone could be remembered as one of the club’s worst seasons. After all, the league title is definitely out of reach. Yet, such was their demolition of Free State Stars in the previous round that The Ghost have good reason to expect further progress for their club when Siwelele come to visit. The problem with Pirates, though, is that they have mastered the art of inconsistency and it is anyone’s guess which team will pitch up at Orlando. It better be the winning Bucs or Celtic will add to their anniversary of misery.