Nodada is gunning for Sundowns and silverware
DURBAN: Cape Town City’s industrious midfielder Thabo Nodada will be difficult to stop this season if the abundance of confidence he boasts is anything to go by.
The midfielder from the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal has set his sights on lifting the MTN8 trophy. Over the weekend he bossed the midfield against Maritzburg United in the MTN8 quarter-final at Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.
Keanu Cupido’s strike sealed City’s place in the last four of the MTN8.
“I’m very happy to prevail into the next stage of the competition. I think we worked together as a team. Tactically we were spot on and everybody played their part. Bravo to Maritzburg also for not giving up and for not letting their guard down. Ultimately we were the better team and we deserve the results,” Nodada said of his side’s diligence against the Team of Choice.
City will meet Mamelodi Sundowns in the semi-finals. The first leg will be at Cape Town Stadium on August 25 and the return leg will be in Pretoria on September 1.
“This time around we are taking it one step at a time. We don’t want to get too excited. We still have the semi-final two legs to play and we need to get past that and then we can talk about the final. Yes, definitely we are disappointed that we lost the last time and now we are looking to go for everything. A trophy will make me happy this season,” Nodada said.
Last season City fell short on penalties as they lost to Super-Sport United in the final at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Nodada is not afraid to face the midfield of Sundowns which boasts the likes of Hlompho Kekana, Tiyani Mabunda, Oupa Manyisa and Gaston Sirino. He believes that Sundowns are not invincible.
“Yes, why not? They’ve got legs and hands just like we do. Come on. There’s eleven players on the field man, come on. What do you want me to say? We are going to lose. Come on, come on.”
Nodada was instrumental for City in keeping Siphesihle Ndlovu quiet.
“The more you worried about him, the more you forget about the qualities that you yourself possess. I had to go out there and prove my qualities and make sure that he worries more about me than I worry about him. I think it worked for me,” Nodada explained.
He scored his first goal in top flight football at Harry Gwala Stadium, the same venue where he walked away with a man of the match award on Sunday.
“This is home for me. Obviously having my family, my gran and everybody here to watch is a great motivation. I’m happy that I could pay them off with the man of the match,” he added.
Nodada is aiming for more for the rest of the season. “My goal is to maintain and improve on the things that I did very well last season. And more so, never go to a war and come back without anything. This time around if I get nominated, I will definitely win the award,” he concluded.