TONIGHT
South Africa’s football heavyweights will look to avoid the embarrassment of upsets at the hands of lower league opponents when the Nedbank Cup Last 32 is played from Tuesday 20 to Sunday 25 February.
The first such example arrives on Tuesday night when reigning DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns head to second-tier NB La Masia for a clash at the Dobsonville Stadium.
The Brazilians are obviously heavy favourites, but La Masia – under the guidance of former Premiership great Daine Klate – will see the clash as a chance to promote their club and players to a wider audience.
“Ideally, it is a platform for us,” said La Masia CEO Rashid Toffie. “I said to the players that they get to create their own luck in terms of where they want to go as a footballer. I’ve told them to use this platform to showcase their talents.”
Tuesday also features probably the pick of matches in the Last 32 and one of just four all-Premiership clashes, as SuperSport United and Cape Town City cross swords at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
Wednesday sees lower league teams Highlands Park and University of Pretoria looking to secure home wins over top-flight Sekhukhune United and Cape Town Spurs respectively, while Thursday brings an all-top-flight KwaZulu-Natal derby between AmaZulu and Royal AM – with Thwihli Thwahla coach John Maduka more than happy to be facing familiar opponents in Usuthu.
“Playing against AmaZulu in this cup game, it’s fine because it’s an opponent that we know,” said the Malawian.
“Sometimes, it’s very difficult that we play against a team that we don’t have the idea of. With AmaZulu or any PSL team, it’s a team that we play week in and week out against each other. We see them, they see us week in and week out. So, it becomes okay for us to prepare.”