Nedbank Cup minnows Mpheni Home Defenders will take on Chippa United in the Nedbank Cup last 16, motivated by fellow ABC Motsepe League club Dondol Stars’ run.
Dondol eliminated DStv Premiership club AmaZulu in a penalty shootout on Wednesday evening following a 1-1 after extra-time.
Before that, Dondol shocked former Premiership champions SuperSport United in the round of 32, winning 2-1.
Unlike Dondol, Mpheni had to beat fellow ABC Motsepe League side Clarewood JPM. They now face a difficult task against Chippa United at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday afternoon, 11 March [3:00 pm].
Club owner turned coach Sydwell Phuravhathu insists just like Dondol, they know what they have to do.
MPHENI HOME DEFENDERS CONFIDENT AHEAD OF CHIPPA CLASH
“We were ready to take any team in the last 32. So we are ready to advance until the final, and we will do our best to reach the final,” he told FARPost.
“That’s what we are going to do without considering the opponents that we are going to meet because it’s not for us to choose the opponents.
“But what is important for us is that we should respect our opponents but not be afraid because it’s 11v11 in the field of play. We should apply our tactics right and clinically in front of goals as well as make sure that we defend our goals very well,” said Phuravhathu.
“Dondol are doing what they are supposed to do. They had a plan when the season started and we also had a plan. So everybody is accomplishing their mission.”
Mpheni are the current log leaders of the Limpopo ABC Motsepe League stream A.
They were the overall winners of the promotion league in the province last season but due to boardroom issues, Magesi were crowned champions. Magesi went on to gain promotion to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
Mpheni also boasts a good defensive record in the competition. They have only conceded one goal from the seven matches they played in the Nedbank Cup this season. This includes the preliminary qualifiers until the 32 match against Clarewood.
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