In this week's Friday debate, Soccer Laduma asks a three member panel if Dondol Stars can join the likes of Maluti FET College, TS Galaxy and Baroka FC by causing one of the biggest upsets in Nedbank Cup history.
Having already knocked out SuperSport United and AmaZulu, Dondol will put on their armour to go into battle against Soweto giants Orlando Pirates, who are determined to win a second knockout competition this season after getting their hands on the MTN8 title. What's interesting is that Dondol have only played against topflight opposition, while the Buccaneers have faced Motsepe Foundation Championship sides All Stars and Venda Football Academy. But, who will win this one?
'Anything is possible for them'
Khurishi Mphahlele - Baroka FC chairman
They can beat Pirates. There are some similarities to when we played in the Nedbank Cup while we were in the Vodacom League (now ABC Motsepe League) in 2011. If they beat AmaZulu and SuperSport, then they can beat Pirates. Anything is possible for them. Playing Pirates is like when we played against Kaizer Chiefs, because Pirates has big support. There will be a lot of people watching that match and it's similar to the situation we were in because the boys will be self-motivated. You don't need to tell the players that you will give them a bonus if they beat Pirates. Remember, they are also selling themselves, so obviously they will go out there and perform at their best. Who does not want to play against Orlando Pirates? No one. They must just go there and perform and they will get contracts. If they beat Pirates, most of them will get contracts (in the PSL).
'Pirates is on song'
Andries Sebola - former Pirates striker
Pirates will be too strong for them, no matter how they performed in the previous two games the big teams. Pirates is on song, so there is no way these guys can disturb Pirates from going to the semi-finals. I think the defence of Dondol is weak and Pirates can hurt them with the pace of (Thembinkosi) Lorch and (Terrence) Dzvukamanja. You can see that Dzvukamanja knows where the goal posts are because he keeps on scoring goals for Pirates, which is a good thing. (Monnapule) Saleng has not scored in the last game or two, so now it's his chance to destroy Dondol. Pirates need to put out a strong team, especially in the middle where it matters most.
'You make sure that you play your regular players'
Lucky Lekgwathi - former Pirates captain
I was not there for the game against Maluti. I remember they rested Siya (Sangweni) and I. We did not play and we ended up losing the game. I think when most of the teams play against lower division teams, we underestimate them and give other players a chance to play. That's where we get punished. Pirates lost to a lower division team and Chiefs have also lost to the likes of Baroka FC and TS Galaxy. You learn from teams like Chiefs that when you play against lower division teams, you don't underestimate them. You make sure that you play your regular players. I remember after that we played a team that was coached by Jerry Sikhosana (M Tigers) and it was the reserve team of Sundowns. I told the players that, after we score, we don't celebrate. We take the ball and go to the centre and show them that we want to give them a hiding. We gave them a hiding because we wanted to show them that we did not want a repeat of what happened with Maluti. Pirates can win this one.
