‘Battle of the universities’ in Nedbank Cup
UNIVERSITY of Pretoria must grab their first ever win over BidVest Wits if they are to advance to the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup tonight in a game billed the “University Challenge” at the BidVest Stadium.
AmaTuks have not won in six previous meetings with Gavin Hunt’s side, though they have only lost twice, suggesting meetings between these two sides are often tight affairs.
There have in fact only been six goals scored in those games, with the stand-out performer Wits and Bafana midfielder Sibusiso Vilakazi, who netted in both his side’s wins.
AmaTuks coach Sammy Troughton acknowledges the challenge, but says they go to Wits with a positive mindset and determined to “have a go”.
“There is no point in going there to try and grind out a defensive performance and hope for a bit of luck or to take the game to penalties,” Troughton said. “If we just sit back and try to soak up pressure we’ll probably go out anyway.
“We want to have a go at them, be attacking in our approach and see where that gets us. They have got some very good players and even though, like us, they are coming off the back of a couple of losses, we know the quality they have.
“You only get one bite at the cherry in cup competitions so we need to seize this moment.
“It would mean so much to the club and the players for us to advance to the quarterfinals, and hopefully beyond, of this competition.” Survival from relegation will always be the ultimate goal for a team like AmaTuks, who ironically probably feel more pressure in a league game than a single knockout match.
“It’s true that in the league we sometimes have to close up against teams, but the cup gives us the opportunity to show another side of our game,” Troughton says.
“We have said we are just going to concentrate on ourselves and putting in the right kind of performances. Gavin Hunt is a very canny coach who often makes lots of changes to his lineup, so it is more difficult to predict his lineup than many other teams to know what we are facing.”
Troughton says they have been practising penalties, but not focusing too much on them.
“At the end of [yesterday’s] session we did get the players together and gave each a chance to take penalties, just to give them the feel for it and some confidence. But it has been a very small part of our preparations.”
AmaTuks will be without Atusaye Nyondo, who is still recovering from the serious head injury picked up against Platinum Stars onWednesday.
They are also unable to select Denver Mukamba, who is on loan from Wits and therefore not available. Bennett Chenene, who missed the weekend’s loss at SuperSport United, returns after missing that game for the same reason.
AmaTuks were beaten by Moroka Swallows in the 2009 final of the Nedbank Cup while still a second-tier side, while Wits claimed the trophy the following season as they defeated AmaZulu 3-0.