Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates may have avoided each other in the Nedbank Cup Last 32 draw, but for Brandon Petersen and Selaelo Rasebotja, the road to Ke Yona glory is far from straightforward.
While the defending champions, Amakhosi, face a daunting trip to the Western Cape to take on Stellenbosch FC, the Buccaneers have been handed a tricky away fixture against ABC Motsepe League outfit Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila [TTM].
As the tournament’s “no-seeding” format once again delivers a mix of heavyweight clashes and David-versus-Goliath subplots, both players are in no doubt: in the Nedbank Cup, your reputation counts for nothing once the whistle blows.
For Petersen, the trip to the Western Cape is more than a business trip; it’s a return to familiar territory against an opponent who has become a recurring character in his cup career.
CHIEFS GOALIE PETERSEN EMBRACES FAMILIAR STELLIES BATTLE
Speaking at the glitzy Nedbank Cup launch in Sandton on Thursday night, a beaming Brandon Petersen joked about his recurring history with the Winelands side. “I think Stellies and I have a good relationship. This is my third time drawing Stellenbosch in a cup competition,” he said with a grin.
The clash is a repeat of last season’s quarter-final, a match that served as the springboard for Chiefs to finally shatter their agonising 10-year trophy drought. That historic run culminated in a dramatic victory over arch-rivals Pirates at a sold-out Moses Mabhida Stadium, but the path to defending that crown now runs directly through the Winelands.
However, the psychological edge may well belong to Stellenbosch FC. While Amakhosi hold the memory of last year’s cup success, Stellies have already proven to be a thorn in the champions’ side this term. This will be the third meeting between the two outfits this season, with Stellies still buoyed by their October exploit, where they dumped Chiefs out of the Carling Knockout Cup.
Having anchored the Amakhosi defence during their triumphant 2025 run, Petersen is aware that Stellies poses a threat to their throne. “It is always an exciting game; history has shown that this is an exciting fixture,” added the Amakhosi captain.
“We know in Cape Town, supporters always come out to back us. So we are looking forward to it. It’s going to be a good one and a tough one, but when the time comes, we will be ready to go to battle and defend our title.”
Stellies will enjoy home-ground advantage for this Last 32 encounter, set to take place between 4 and 8 February. The PSL is yet to confirm the exact kick-off times and venues.
RESPECT THE MINNOWS: RASEBOTJA’S GUARDED APPROACH TO TTM CUP CLASH
While the Sea Robbers have been spared a top-flight opponent, midfielder Rasebotja is well aware of the “banana skins” that lower-league teams provide.
A trip to Venda to face the 2020/21 season champions TTM brings its own pressures, and Rasebotja, a native of Limpopo himself, is preaching a message of respect and mental discipline to ensure Pirates, who clinched the title in 2022 and 2023, avoid an early exit.
“I think it is an interesting fixture, drawing a team from the lower division, but it doesn’t take away the fact that we have to take the game serious and also give the opponent some respect but it is a game to play and we, as Orlando Pirates we play every game to win, it is one game to look forward to also,” said Rasebotja.
“Our attitude has always been simple: we play every competition to win it, and we want to continue our culture of playing every game to win. Hopefully, this time around, we go all the way to win the Nedbank Cup.”
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