AmaZulu FC head coach Pablo Franco Martin has pointed out what pleases him about the Nedbank Cup fixture against Orlando Pirates.
Usuthu defeated Sekhukhune United in the Round of 16 to make it to the Last 8 while the Soweto giants brushed aside Hungry Lions to secure the spot in the next stage.
The two sides were pitted against each other in a draw that took place on Monday at SuperSport studios in Randburg. The dates for the fixtures are yet to be confirmed.
Martin admitted that the Buccaneers would be a tough side to encounter, saying he isn’t happy with the draw.
However, he was pleased by the fact that they would be playing at home. And he is hoping they will benefit from the support of the home crowd.
PABLO FRANCO MARTIN HAPPY WITH THE HOME ADVANTAGE OVER ORLANDO PIRATES
“I’m not going to say that I’m happy because we are going to face one of the best teams, the defending champions,” said Martin.
“You know they have been doing an amazing job for one year-and-a-half. I’m happy with the fact of playing at home, we are saving a trip which is important at this stage of the season.
“I think we are going to be more competitive with our fans supporting us but at this stage all teams are difficult.”
Martin says he has made history by guiding the club to their first Nedbank Cup quarter-final in 12 years.
Having reached the semi-final in the Carling Knockout Cup earlier this season, Usuthu are looking to achieve the same feat in this competition too.
‘IT’S A SMALL PIECE OF HISTORY’
“The best thing is that we are playing the [Nedbank Cup] quarter-finals for the first time in 12 years,” he added.
“AmaZulu were not in the quarter-finals of this competition, so it’s a small piece of history, and now we are looking forward to the game because I’m sure we are going to have our chances.
“We already showed in the previous competition with this format in the Carling (Knockout) Cup that we could beat any team. We reached the semi-finals; we were about to reach the final from there.
“Now we are going to try to qualify and we are going to play our best football.
“It is going to be very challenging, it’s going to be motivating for all of us but these are the kinds of games that we all love to play as professional footballers or technical members, or as a club.
“These are the kind of games that can [give] us the possibility to be bigger and to write big pages of history, and we are here for that.
“In the end, I’m not going to say I’m happy but I’m confident of the possibilities of the team and I’m sure that we are going to give them a tough time.”
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