A big ask for Team of Choice

MARITZBURG United are facing a mammoth task of ending a seven-year hoodoo of KwaZulu-Natal teams which have failed to reach the cup finals over the last couple of years.

The Team of Choice will lock horns against SuperSport United at Lucas Moripe Stadium in a semi-final first leg of the Nedbank Cup tonight (kick-off 8.15pm).

The second leg is set for September 9 at Harry Gwala Stadium in Maritzburg.

The winner of this clash will face the defending champions Bidvest Wits or Cape Town City who face each other in Cape Town tomorrow at 3pm.

Maritzburg United are making their second appearance in the semi-finals, having previously reached the last four in 2014 under Steve Komphela when they lost out to Orlando Pirates.

AmaZulu were the last KZN team to reach the final. They were humbled by Bidvest Wits at the grand opening of the newly built FNB Stadium in 2010.

Wits rolled past Usuthu 3-0 while Golden Arrows are the only club in KZN to lift the MTN8 trophy during the PSL era.

They thumped Ajax Cape Town 6-0 in the in 2009 final.

Manning Rangers also reached the final of the ABSA Cup in 2004. They went on to lose the final 3-1 to Moroka Swallows.

Team of Choice coach Fadlu Davids was diplomatic about his approach to the match. “We have played three games in seven days now. We have to take that in to consideration.

“SuperSport United are a fantastic side, we are a small team. We are just the underdogs. They are the cup winners and we haven’t reach the cup final. We have to be realistic and give them the respect they deserve,” Davids said.

The road to the final won’t be elementary for The Team of Choice as they are facing a team with Cup pedigree.

SuperSport United reached two finals last season, losing to Cape Town City in the final of the Telkom Knockout but lifting the Nedbank Cup at the end of the season.

As much as SuperSport United have the Cup pedigree they haven’t won the MTN8 for a while now. The last time they were successful in the competition was under Pitso Mosimane in 2004 when it was sponsored by SAA.

SuperSport coach Eric Tinkler has reach a cup final in each and every season he has coached in the PSL.

In his first season as the head coach he led Pirates to two cup finals. Unfortunately he lost both of them to Etiole du Sahel of Tunisia in the Caf Confederation Cup and SuperSport United in the Nedbank Cup. Last season he won the Telkom Knockout with Cape Town City.