The Rep

Amavarara head to EL for Nedbank Cup

- NTSIKELELO QOYO

Amavarara are ready to shoulder the weight of representi­ng the province in the biggest cup competitio­n in South African soccer.

The club was the first in Chris Hani to play in the Nedbank Cup round of 32.

Last week, the club drew a fellow ABC Motsepe team from Bloemfonte­in, Super Eagles FC.

Amavarara won the draw to host the match but it will not be played in Chris Hani as none of the region s fields qualify to host’ matches in this round of the competitio­n.

We have thus submitted an “applicatio­n to play the game at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane,” club chairperso­n Lusapho Mzwakali said.

Mzwakali was not concerned about the match being played outside the region, saying the team were focused on progressin­g to the last 16.

The draw is both difficult “ and nice nice because we are — playing a team we have a good chance of beating and difficult because we have to focus on keeping the players motivated and focused for the game.

If we had been up against a “big team, the only worry would have been fitness,” he said.

Amavarara, who have had a run of three games without a win, are in sixth place on the log.

The team parted with their coach, Thomas Tshabalala, in November and rehired their former coach Mzunani Mgwigwi.

Mzwakali said the change in technical staff would not affect the team in the tournament. The team is the same, he “[Mgwigwi] trained those boys. In fact the change will be “positive for the team,” he said.

Super Eagles are currently second on the Free State ABC Motsepe log and have only lost one game all season.

The match is on February 8.

 ?? Picture: NTSIKELELO QOYO ?? TO BE KINGS: Amavarara drew a fellow ABC Motsepe team, Super Eagles FC, last week in the round of 32. The match is to be played outside of Chris Hani as the region has no stadiums that meet PSL standards
Picture: NTSIKELELO QOYO TO BE KINGS: Amavarara drew a fellow ABC Motsepe team, Super Eagles FC, last week in the round of 32. The match is to be played outside of Chris Hani as the region has no stadiums that meet PSL standards

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