Clubs vie for places in Nedbank Cup last 32
THE East Cape ABC Motsepe League race will take a back seat this weekend as the Nedbank Cup qualifiers take centre stage.
The league’s 16 clubs will be battling it out at four venues across the province with hopes of claiming the spot to represent the EC in the Nedbank Cup last 32 next year, which also features all PSL clubs and eight NFD sides.
Group two, featuring Future Tigers, Tornado, Matta Milan and FC Buffalo will play their games in Sisa Dukashe Stadium today.
The other two groups, three and four, will play their matches in Nelson Mandela Bay, Gelvandale and Motherwell respectively.
In group three are Highbury, Morning Stars, SUBS and Lion City, while group four comprise EC BEEs, Emperors FC, Blackburn Rovers and Young Ideas.
Mthatha will play hosts to group one comprising Mthatha City FC, Zimbane Killers, FC Elliot and Kokstad Liverpool.
Group winners will then have a date with each other on a day still to be announced to decide the ultimate winner, after which they will collide with the SAB winners to decide who gets to represent the EC in the R7-million worth cup competition.
The provincial reps in last year’s last 32 – Tornado – were hammered 4-0 by Orlando Pirates in the very first round while the year before Buffalo were defeated 2-1 by Kaizer Chiefs.
Whichever club makes it to the last 32 this time around will be hoping to avoid being drawn against the big guns.
Back to the qualifiers tomorrow, Tigers take on Milan at 10am in Sisa Dukashe before Tornado and Buffalo collide in the big East London derby two hours later at the same venue.
When the two met in the same qualifiers last year Tornado claimed the bragging rights, which makes for an interesting clash because Buffalo are out for revenge.
Tornado go into this match with a challenge of not having played a competitive match this season while their foes are brimming with confidence after beating Liverpool 1-0 in a league encounter last weekend.
Tigers, in their match against Milan, face the same predicament as Tornado because they too have not played a competitive match while their opponents are fresh from a 2-1 victory over SUBS in a league encounter.
To end the weekend soccer feast in Mdantsane, a winner of Milan against Tigers and that of Tornado versus Buffalo will meet in the group final at 3.30pm the same day.