Nedbank Cup takes centre stage in SA By Graeme Jackson The 2014 Nedbank Cup resumes in South Africa this weekend, with the last 16 round kicking off in Cape Town on Friday evening when Santos host Orlando Pirates at Athlone Stadium. The People’s Team are two-time winners of the National Cup and have caused the Buccaneers problems in cup competitions in the past, meaning Vladimir Vermezovic’s side will have to recover quickly from their Soweto derby loss to Kaizer Chiefs if they are to avoid slipping up on this potential banana skin. Saturday’s action sees a repeat of the 2010 Nedbank Cup final when AmaZulu welcome Bidvest Wits to Durban for an afternoon kick-off. The Clever Boys crushed Usuthu 3-0 in that final four years ago, which was also the first competitive match played at the refurbished FNB Stadium. With home advantage on their side this time, AmaZulu will be looking to send Gavin Hunt’s side packing. Two further all-PSL clashes on Saturday see Platinum Stars, who are chasing a domestic cup treble after their successes in the MTN8 and Telkom Knockout earlier this season, host Maritzburg United at Moruleng Stadium, while Golden Arrows will hope to forget their awful league campaign when they host Mamelodi Sundowns at King Zwelithini Stadium in a night game. Sunday’s action sees African Warriors and Milano United – separated by just a few points on the National First Division log – cross swords at the Charles Mopeli Stadium, while elsewhere in the Free State province Bloemfontein Celtic will be the clear favourites to defeat second-tier Witbank Spurs at the Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium. Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United’s participation in CAF club competition over the weekend means the round of 16 will only be completed next week Wednesday. Chiefs host minnows FC Buffalo (the only remaining SAFA Second Division team in the Nedbank Cup) at FNB Stadium, while United travel to the Dobsonville Stadium to take on Moroka Swallows in another all-PSL clash.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 09:04:12 +0000