Crowie: As long as we give it our all ...
WHILE Kaizer Chiefs have been on a slippery slope against unheralded opposition in the Nedbank Cup over the last few years, they are doing everything in their power to get over a tricky hurdle tomorrow.
Chiefs are planning to avoid the trap set for them by University of Pretoria, FC Cape Town and Baroka FC in recent seasons when they take on Vodacom League side Cape Town All Stars at FNB Stadium (kickoff 8.15pm).
Their coach, Vladimir Vermesovic, said earlier this week “we must be more ready than we are for our league games”. And no doubt they will be on high alert after a few costly lessons.
The All Stars’ coach, Desmond Crowie, younger brother of Santos trainer Duncan, is fully aware that Chiefs will come out to right the wrongs of competitions past. He expects nothing but a professional performance from Amakhosi and feels that they have learned their lesson.
“We all know about Chiefs’ cup pedigree. But over the last couple of seasons, they have struggled in this cup and I think that might make them more wary of us,” Crowie said.
“At the draw, I heard they were going to bring some scouts down to watch our games. So I don’t think they will underestimate us, in fact, they will probably be 120 times more prepared.”
But that doesn’t mean the third-tier team aren’t relishing a crack at Amakhosi.
The beauty of cup football, what makes it so appealing, has always been the upset – the “smaller” team beating the “bigger” team with a performance of guts, passion and desire.
Watching the All Stars train this week, you could see the fire in their eyes – they take on the mighty Chiefs tomorrow.
And even if their fairytale doesn’t have a happy ending at the majestic FNB Stadium, it’s not the end of the world, as long as they know they left nothing out on the field.
“Kaizer Chiefs are one of the top teams on the continent, so for the players to play against Chiefs at FNB Stadium, it’s a dream come true for most of them,” Crowie said.
“So it will be a travesty if we walk off the field on Saturday night and we didn’t do our best. It doesn’t matter what the score is at the end of the match, as long as we gave it all on the field,” Crowie added. WEEKEND’S NEDBANK CUP
LAST-32 FIXTURES Today: Maritzburg United v Bloemfontein Celtic (Harry Gwala Stadium, 8pm). Tomorrow: Black Aces v Witbank Spurs (Rand Stadium, 3pm), African Warriors v Jomo Cosmos (Charles Mopeli Stadium, 3pm), Kaizer Chiefs v Cape Town All Stars (FNB Stadium, 8.15pm), Golden Arrows v NW Shining Stars (King Zwelithini Stadium, 8.15pm). Sunday: Batau FC v Supersport United (AJ Swanepoel Stadium, 3pm), Powerlines FC v Mamelodi Sundowns (GWK Stadium).