All Eyes On The Big Three
Not since 2014 have all of Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs made it to the quarterfinals of the same edition of the Nedbank Cup, which makes the weekend's games all the more intriguing and exciting. With this competition, you always feel an upset is around the corner, what with the so-called smaller sides tending to reserve their best for these kind of games, not least because of the tournament's life-changing nature. Therefore, the Buccaneers may appear to have gotten a kind draw after being pitted against third-tier Dondol Stars, the only lower division side left in the Nedbank Cup, but it is a tricky fixture… ask SuperSport United and AmaZulu FC. The game of the round, though, surely has to be Royal AM hosting Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday evening. Will Mamelodi Sundowns boost their title defence by breezing past Stellenbosch FC at Athlone Stadium? What about strugglers Chippa United hosting ambitious Sekhukhune United? Soccer Laduma's Tshepang Mailwane previews the quarterfinals.
Dondol Stars v Orlando Pirates
15 April, New Peter Mokaba Stadium, 15h00
I'm Going To Be Part Of Pirates
ABC Motsepe League club Dondol Stars are the only lower division side left in the competition. Having already knocked out SuperSport United and AmaZulu FC, they now have an even bigger task against an Orlando Pirates side currently on a high, as well as the pace and trickery of Monnapule Saleng and Thembinkosi Lorch. It's a big task, but Nedbank Cup history will tell you that they cannot be ruled out of upsetting the Soweto giants, who have experienced pain of being knocked out of the competition by a third-tier club. Soccer Laduma's Tshepang Mailwane spoke to Dondol coach Vincent Rammoni…
Tshepang Mailwane: Did you ever, in your wildest dreams, think that Dondol Stars would be the only lower division team left going into the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals?
Vincent Rammoni: My brother, it's such an exciting moment and a very good platform for our boys. We are so privileged to be in this kind of competition, especially at this stage. It's so emotional and it's not every day that you get this kind of situation in your life. So, whenever they come, you need to cherish them as much as you can, but at the same time not forgetting the responsibility you have. It's a nice feeling for me, the technical team, the players and the supporters as well. It brings pressure for us, but I can also say that pressure is what gets the best out of human beings.
TM: When you went into the quarterfinal draw and the name of Orlando Pirates was taken out of the hat as your opponent, what went through yours and the players' minds?
VR: A very exciting moment for me personally, because Orlando Pirates is a big team in South Africa and a team that I made a vow that in future I must have a spell in their headquarters. To have an opportunity there, it means I need to do well against them, and this is a platform to show them that indeed I have what it takes to be part of their set-up. So, for me, it was great to be drawn against Orlando Pirates. And for my players, they were so happy, but they are humble and still respect the principles. They've been working so hard because everyone looks at it as a big fixture and everybody wants to be part of it because the entire South Africa will be watching. I know that most of the people were watching the SuperSport (United) game and that was followed by the AmaZulu FC game, but I can guarantee you that the 70 million population of South Africans will be very keen to watch this one. So, the players are working very hard to get their names on the team sheet against one of the biggest teams in South Africa. We are so excited for this one. For me, it's more to do with the future than just now.
VR: I grew up supporting Mamelodi Sundowns, but then I fell in love with Pirates along the way. I never supported them… Even to date, I don't support, but it's a team that I feel that I want to coach one day because of the history and culture that they have.
TM: What made you fall in love with Bucs?
VR: When I started coaching, Pirates were the only team that had a (Champions League) star. Sundowns did not have a star by then because they only won it in 2016. Pirates were the only team that had a star, and they are regarded as the mother of Kaizer Chiefs, who have grown to be a big brand in South African football. Everybody wants to be part of a team with that rich history in it, and I personally feel that Orlando Pirates is a team that should be leading the direction of South African football holistically, more than what Sundowns is currently doing, or even Kaizer Chiefs. Who would not want to be in that kind of set-up? That's how I fell in love with it and there are players from Alexandra who had a spell with Pirates – there was (Patrick) Phungwayo, Mpho Makola, (Joseph) Molangoane. Whenever you have a chat with them, they tell you that it's nice to be in that kind of set-up. They tell you how it feels to be part of the Soweto Derby, which is the biggest derby in the country. We may say what we want to say, but the reality is that it's still bigger than any other derby in this country. I am a child who had a dream and I remember I once told Augusto (Palacios) that one day I am going to be the head coach of Orlando Pirates. I believe that I am going to make the brand respected more than it currently is. I still speak to some of the employees that are at Pirates, I tell them that my time is coming. It may not be now or after two or three years, but eventually I am going to be part of Pirates. That's a dream I will never turn my back on until I achieve it. There is nothing that beats work hard, being disciplined and consistency.
TM: How do you make sure that, as a team, you keep your feet on the ground and not be in awe of Orlando Pirates and forget to play the game?
VR: Honestly, there is not much to deal with in terms of being focused because the players are working so hard to be part of this game. They are so motivated naturally. Our responsibility is to ensure that players understand how we want to play and then train at the maximum rate that we require our players to train. They need to stay focused on the game plan as much as possible. That's the biggest challenge that we have. But in terms of being focused and motivated, that's not a problem. They know what this game means for their careers and for their families. They know what it means to all the people who believe in them.
TM: In your opinion, what's Pirates' biggest threat?
VR: It's the status that they have. We cannot run away from the fact that one thing alone brings a whole lot of pressure automatically. When you play against Pirates and they have too many supporters, players are more likely not to come out of their shell because of the magnitude of the game. Another thing is that Pirates are very strong when it comes to transition football, from defending to attacking. That's an aspect that we feel we need to pay attention to if we want to block their immediate transition. We need to know how we buy time to be organised because of the top players they have in their team. They have (Thembinkosi) Lorch in their team, they have (Monnapule) Saleng in their team, they have (Vincent) Pule in their team. These players have speed, and they are skillful, so you don't play them and expect an easy task.
TM: How do you stop someone like Saleng?
VR: You don't stop Saleng per se because Saleng may or may not play. It's possible that the coach could decide otherwise and put Saleng on the bench. So, you don't plan for Saleng as a person, but you plan for Pirates as a team, and you look at how they've been playing their previous games and you look at the structure. You look at which moments are they likely to concede goals and which moments are they likely to score goals. You look at how they've been scoring most of their goals, be it from set-pieces or from transitions or from build-up phases until they reach the last third. Then you plan according to that. We don't target individuals. We believe a well-organised base can beat every structure you come up against, because there is no 'I' in 'team'. Saleng is a good player whom I respect, but we will be playing against Orlando Pirates, not Saleng.
TM: As Dondol Stars, what's your biggest strength that Pirates should worry about?
VR: Ha, ha, ha, am I allowed to tell you that before we even play? I wish I was in a space where I could elaborate on that, but because of the timing, I cannot reveal the plan before the game actually starts. But there are a whole lot of things that we've been preparing in relation to Pirates' structure and in relation to how they behave on and off the ball. There is a certain way we want to do things and I wish I was able to explain the plan to you, so that when the game plays, everybody could understand all the moves that happen. Unfortunately, the timing does not allow me to take out that information. If this interview was on Sunday, I would give everything. But how we played SuperSport United is not how we played AmaZulu, and how we played AmaZulu is not like how we are going to play Pirates because they have different players in their teams. We are going to tweak one or two things in our structure, but principles stay the same.
TM: Before we let you go, can remember any previous Nedbank Cup upset that's most memorable to you?
VR: There are many, but the one I'll never forget is the one against SuperSport United. I still value what Maluti (FET College) did to Orlando Pirates and what Baroka and University of Pretoria did (to Kaizer Chiefs), when they had (Andile) Jali and (Phenyo) Mongala. But I was not part of those moments. When you are part of those moments, you cannot have the inner feelings that they have. So, a win against SuperSport is the biggest highlight of my coaching career because it was my first time being in a game of that magnitude. It's something you dream (of). Sometimes you don't even believe that there is that chance for a Black child that grows up in the township. But when you walk in there and you smell the grass, it feels so good to be part of it. I was happy when we beat AmaZulu, but not happier than when we beat SuperSport because that was the first time. Then when we played AmaZulu, I knew how to manage myself properly and to behave and all that.
The Numbers Are There…
Thabang Monare – Orlando Pirates midfielder
"Credit to them because they have performed well. They have beaten teams that are in a bigger division than where they are, so you can never not give credit and respect to that kind of a side. Credit to the players and technical staff for the hard work they have put in. The numbers are there and they don't lie. We must give them the respect they deserve. If you are at a club like Pirates, you understand that every week you play a big game because you are playing against well-motivated sides. The motivation is effortless. It does not need to come from anywhere. It's always there. Teams always want to outplay us, so that means we always need to bring our A-game.
Five Memorable Nedbank Cup Upsets
2009: University of Pretoria 4-3 Kaizer Chiefs
This seven-goal thriller is best remembered for the whistle Jimmy Tau thought he heard from the referee, which led to a Phenyo Mongala goal. With eight minutes to play, the game was tied at 3-3 and, with so much happening throughout the game, there was a good chance that the winning goal would be scored in the final stages. That's exactly what happened, as Mongala showed Tau a clean pair of heels to complete his brace and secure arguably the biggest victory in AmaTuks' history. It was a memorable competition for the side as the likes of Andile Jali, Mthokozisi Yende and Mongala ended up joining Orlando Pirates and Chiefs.
2010: Platinum Stars 2-3 Als Puk Tawana
A feeder team to Mamelodi Sundowns at the time, Als Puk Tawana stunned Platinum Stars in this five-goal thriller. The third-tier side had the likes of Jabulani Shongwe, Mahlatse Makudubela and Buhle Mkhwanazi, as they secured this hard-fought victory. The youngsters raced to a 2-0 lead with goals from Lebepe Phetolo and Shongwe, before Stars pulled one back before the half-hour mark through Kagiso Senamela. Shongwe made it three for Tawana and Senamela also completed his brace, but it was not enough to help Stars on the day.
2011: Baroka FC 2-1 Kaizer Chiefs
Amakhosi opened the scoring through Knowledge Musona nine minutes before the break, and it seemed like they would go on to register a routine victory against a lower division opponent, but what followed will go down in history as one of the most memorable victories in the competition by an amateur club at the time. Baroka, competing in the Vodacom League (now ABC Motsepe League) at the time, equalized two minutes before half-time through ex-SuperSport United midfielder Sam Ndlovu and then the victory was phenomenally sealed in the 90th minute by Thobani Mncwango. Coached by Vladimir Vermezovic at the time, Chiefs put out a strong team with the likes of Musona, Itumeleng Khune, Mandla Masango, Jimmy Tau and Reneilwe Letsholonyane, but their lower division opponents pulled off a victory that people still talk about today.
2013: Maluti FET College 4-1 Orlando Pirates
When third tier Maluti scored in the first minute of play through Lucky Mokoena, it opened the door to one of the biggest upsets in Nedbank Cup history. It gave the hosts confidence, and they made it 2-0 before the half-hour mark. Ten minutes into the second half, it was 3-0, but Pirates pulled one back on the hour mark through Oupa Manyisa. But in the 80th minute, the minnows wrapped up an incredible 4-1 victory.
2019: Kaizer Chiefs 0-1 TS Galaxy
Chiefs had an opportunity to end a four-year trophy drought when they faced then National First Division side Galaxy. It seemed to be the perfect stage to finally bring an end to the misery, but instead it turned out to be one of the worst moments in the Soweto giants' history. After 89 minutes without a goal, the Glamour Boys gave away a penalty in the final minute of the game and the man who stepped up, Zakhele Lepasa, was on loan from archrivals Pirates. Cool as ice, he converted from 12 yards out and left thousands of Amakhosi supporters in the Moses Mabhida Stadium, as well as the players and coaching staff, in disbelief and agony.
Stellenbosch FC v Mamelodi Sundowns
15 April, Athlone Stadium, 18h00
Stellies Can Give Them An Upset
Brent Carelse – Former Sundowns midfielder
"I don't think there should be too much of a concern with Sundowns' two consecutive goalless draws because they have won the league already. But this one is the Nedbank Cup and I think they will go all out to try to win that game. That is one competition that they also want to win. I think it's going to be an exciting game and I don't think it's going to be as open as the game they played in the league, but we will see. The thing about cup games is that the form book goes out the window. Stellies can give them an upset, but I know Sundowns want to add this cup to their achievements for this season."
I Have To Go With Stellenbosch
Diego Brown – Former Stellenbosch winger
"It's going to be a very interesting game. It's a cup game, so it's always going to be different. With cup games, players tend to arrive differently on the day. For Stellenbosch playing against Sundowns, it's a big one for them and I think I have to go with Stellenbosch because they are my former team. Looking at Sundowns, they drew their last game against Swallows FC, but like I say, cup games are different to league games. Stellenbosch will want to win this game because they've not done too well this season and this is the last chance to win some silverware. They lost their last game against Royal AM, so I think they'll be well prepared to face Sundowns. I know coach Steve (Barker) is probably drilling the players because he wants to get a positive result in this game as this is their last opportunity to win something this season. I'll give it to Stellenbosch, maybe 1-0. But you can't write off Sundowns."
Chippa United v Sekhukhune
16 April, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, 15h00
I Know a Lot About Them
Justice Chabalala – Chippa defender
"I know we are not in a good position in the league, but I see that we can win against Sekhukhune, and I want to see the team winning the Nedbank Cup, as a player who always wants to achieve things. We are ready to win the game. I've played for Sekhukhune and I know a lot about them. They are a good team, but now I am here at Chippa and I want my team to win. I know they also want to win, but this is a competition and we are ready to win against them. They might think we are in a bad position and that we might only want to focus on the league, but we are focusing on both the league and the Nedbank Cup because football is all about winning games."
We Will Do The Same
Roderick Kabwe – Sekhukhune defender
"It's always tough playing the same team in a space of a few weeks. We played against them recently in the league and it was not an easy game. We had our chances to win and we had a massive chance in the 94th minute, but unfortunately, I missed a lastminute penalty. We expect another tough game against them, and they will be busy this week, analyzing us, and we will do the same. We expect a lot of changes from them. During the game we played against them in the league, they changed systems during the game. They started with a 4-3-3 and ended up playing a 3-4-3 system. They are a flexible team that can change systems during the game, but it's all about us and how we apply ourselves."
Royal AM v Kaizer Chiefs
16 April, Chatsworth Stadium, 18h00
It's Going To Be A Great Game
Mxolisi Macuphu - Royal AM striker
"Having played them twice this season, it definitely gives us a clear picture. We won the first leg and they won the second leg. They are a tough team (that is) on form at the moment. Things are going well for them and we are aware of that, but a cup game is also a cup game, you know. It depends on the 90 minutes on the day and who wants it the most. When you look at our season as Royal AM, this is our hope to actually make it and go far with this cup run. If you remember last season, we finished in the semifinals, so we are looking forward to getting there again. It's going to be a great game and it depends on who wants it in the 90 minute or even 120 minutes."
It Will Go To Extra Time And…
Mokete Tsotetsi – Former Chiefs defender
"If you check the last five games (in the league), Royal AM have been doing fairly well and Chiefs have been in good form. Chiefs drew their last match against Marumo Gallants, but I know it's going to be a challenging game for both sides, looking at them pound for pound. It's going to be an interesting game. Arthur Zwane did not start so well this season, but you can see the improvement in the team playingwise. The young boys are coming up and the team is playing good football. If they can get to the final, it will complement the work he's been doing and the confidence of the supporters will grow. It will be good for him to win this one and win this trophy, but it won't be easy because John (Maduka) has been doing well with the team. I think it will go to extra time and it will go to Chiefs."
