Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila [TTM] head coach Lucky Nelukau has explained why his side harbours no fear ahead of their high-stakes Nedbank Cup Round of 32 clash against Orlando Pirates this Saturday.
The David-vs-Goliath encounter is scheduled for Saturday, 7 February, at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Kick-off is set for 15:00.
For TTM, who competes in the SAFA Limpopo ABC Motsepe League, the mission is simple: disrupt the rhythm of the Sea Robbers and capitalise on the pressure weighing on their opponent, Pirates.
With history favouring the brave in the Nedbank Cup, Nelukau is banking on his side’s previous giant-killing pedigree to carry them through. The 2022 season saw TTM deliver a series of upsets against top-flight opposition. Their campaign began with a hard-fought 7-6 penalty win over Golden Arrows and gained further momentum in the quarter-finals, where they secured a 3-2 victory over SuperSport United.
LUCKY NELUKAU UNFAZED BY ORLANDO PIRATES NEDBANK CUP TIE TEST
Despite the massive gulf in resources and league status, Nelukau insists his side is heading to the coast with a “no fear” mentality.
Nelukau believes the talent gap isn’t as wide as the divisions suggest. He pointed to Pirates’ own young stars as proof that age and experience are just numbers.
“Obviously, we are the underdogs, but that doesn’t mean we are going to lose the game. It’s going to be eleven versus eleven; they are preparing, and we are also preparing. We are not preparing to lose the match. We are going for a win and we have got no fear,” said Nelukau in an exclusive interview with FARPost.
“The game is very important, especially for the boys. Playing against a team like Orlando Pirates is a dream for every player in our division. This is not going to be a walkover for Pirates. So, we have a lot of surprises. We did it before; we played against SuperSport United a few seasons ago, and we won. We played against Golden Arrows, and we succeeded.
”But remember, we are playing in the ABC Motsepe League, while Pirates are playing in the PSL. They are doing well in the league at the moment. I think that is the difference between us and them, but I believe that we can match them in terms of performance. People mustn’t undermine us; we have good players. Relebohile Mofokeng is the same age as our players, so we have plenty of players who want to show that they can compete against a PSL side.”
As the Limpopo-based outfit makes the trip to Durban, they carry the hopes of the lower divisions. While Pirates enter as heavy favorites, Nelukau’s message is loud and clear: respect is earned on the pitch, and TTM is ready to fight for every inch of the Moses Mabhida turf.
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