Battle of the form teams as Stellies take on Sundowns
Nedbank Cup semifinal match promises epic clash
PSL champions-elect Mamelodi Sundowns will visit a highly determined and enthusiastic Stellenbosch FC side that has now played 25 matches without a single defeat.
On Thursday, the Brazilians became the Dstv Premiership champions once again with six matches to spare after hammering Kaizer Chiefs 5-1 at the FNB Stadium, making it their seventh consecutive league title win.
Today’s highly anticipated Nedbank Cup semifinal clash will be Stellenbosch’s fourth semifinal in a row and it will take place at the picturesque Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch. Kick-off is at 3pm.
On Wednesday, the dangerous Western Cape outfit added Golden Arrows to its burgeoning body count after nailing the KZN club 3-0 at the same stadium.
They regained second place on the log thanks to goals from Devin Titus, Anicet Oura and Iqraam Rayners.
Titus is now on seven goals, with Rayners becoming the Dstv Premiership top goalscorer with 14 strikes.
So, they will be a big threat for coach Rulani Mokwena’s side, which is also riding a wave of success.
The story of Stellenbosch is one of the most extraordinary of this 2023/24 PSL season, as the club from the Cape Winelands continues to punch above its weight.
Incidentally, Stellenbosch last lost a match in September against the same Sundowns that they will cross swords with today. The Brazilians won 3-1.
In their six-month unbeaten run, they have managed to beat glamour clubs Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and their noisy neighbours, Cape Town City, in the process.
Under Steve Barker, the Stellies have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with, and they will be seeking a taste of their first ever cup final at the expense of the defending league champions.
Even though Sundowns have played three league matches after being knocked out of the Caf Champions League by Esperance of Tunisia, they are somehow still smarting from the continental cup exit. Mokwena admitted that even though they won the league, he felt that he still let the club down by getting knocked out in the semi-finals.
So, Sundowns are expected to be ruthless in Cape Town and the Nedbank Cup’s R7-million winners’ cheque could come as a nice consolation for the Brazilians, who have raked in millions of rands by virtue of playing in major tournaments and going far in those competitions.
So, the highly driven and motivated Masandawana will go all out to book their place in the final.