Minnows dream of immortality

BIG BOYS HAVE TO LOOK TO THEIR LAURELS

Cup competitions are by their nature fertile ground for scintillating football but it is only in the Nedbank Cup where giant-killers and unbelievable scores are witnessed as Absa Premiership teams do battle with lower division teams for the R7 million prize money.

Two lower division teams have, however, already been knocked out with Mamelodi Sundowns seeing off Mariveni United 2-0 while Polokwane City were made to sweat before beating African All Stars by the same score.

But 14 teams for the National First Division and the ABC Motsepe League remain in the competition and will hope for a fairy-tale run. Teams from these divisions are known for causing upsets but are yet to win it although the likes of Mpumalanga Black Aces, University of Pretoria and Black Leopards have gone as far as the finals in past editions.

Four teams will be looking for a giant-killing feat against Premiership teams today. NFD campaigners, FC Cape Town and Stellenbosch will be up against Baroka FC and Kaizer Chiefs respectively.

ABC Motsepe League teams KwaDukuza United and Buya Msuthu face Ajax Cape Town and Bloemfontein Celtic respectively.

EC Bees play Orlando Pirates while Accorbush United lock horns with Cape Town City. KwaDukuza coach Thami Ngubane fancied his team’s chances against the Urban Warrios.

“We have the players who can rise to the occasion against Ajax. We want to give players opportunity to showcase their talent. We have prepared very well for Ajax. They are favourites but we can surprise them,” he said.

Stellenbosch will also fancy their chances against Amakhosi who do not have a favourable record in this competition.

EC Bees will also be looking to do to Bucs what Maluti FET did a few years ago when they defeated the Soweto giants 4-1. Pirates have been winless in 11 games.