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Michaelson Gumede

Mamelodi Sundowns forward Sibusiso Vilakazi has sung the praises of Maritzburg United, who his team face in two crunch back-to-back encounters.

The Brazilians will need to get past Fadlu Davids’ Team of Choice tomorrow afternoon in the Nedbank Cup semifinal if they are to keep their hopes of a league and cup double alive.

On Wednesday, meanwhile, the duo will lock horns again in the Absa Premiership, where a win for Downs could see the Chloorkop-based side crowned champions if their closest rivals, Orlando Pirates, fail to win against Bidvest Wits on the same night.

“Both of the games are important but we start with the cup game, it is a huge task that we are going to be coming up against,” said Vilakazi.

“The side that we are going up against is good and the results have not been lying. It shows that the coach has really been working on his players and the players have been producing and it is a tough hurdle.

“It is very challenging because you have to consider that you have to play them in the cup first and you kind of forget about the next one, because you can’t really focus on the upcoming one when you haven’t dealt with the first one,” the Bafana Bafana international added.

Much like his coach Pitso Mosimane, Vilakazi has lauded Davids’ style of play and the way that he sets up his team.

“The coach has been able to instill certain things in terms of belief and getting the young players coming through and that’s great.

“They are still getting better and better … but we have to get over that hurdle.”