Crowie plays down Chiefs clash
Cape Town All Stars coach Desmond Crowie says his side will not be distracted from their ultimate goal this season as they prepare to face Kaizer Chiefs in the first round of the Nedbank Cup at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
The Western Cape Vodacom League side have targeted promotion to the National First Division, just two years after their formation, and currently sit five points clear at the top of their division.
Crowie says that although the players will enjoy the experience of facing Chiefs, the result on Saturday is almost secondary.
“Our goal is primarily to win the Vodacom League, being in the Last 32 of the Nedbank Cup is a bonus,” Crowie says. “It is a chance for the players, the club, and even myself, to showcase what we are about. We must just go out there on Saturday and just enjoy ourselves.
“At least I know I won’t have to motivate the players for this game, they will motivate themselves, what we need to guard against is them freezing and getting stage fright.”
As soon as the draw was made, people started making comparisons between All Stars and Limpopo Vodacom League side Baroka FC, who dumped Chiefs out of the Nedbank Cup in the quarterfinals last season. But Crowie says the circumstances are completely different.
“People look at Baroka and what they achieved last season and try and compare us to them, but I think it will be totally different. I think after last year Chiefs will be more prepared for this game, they won’t want to risk losing again.
“Our challenge as a technical team is not to let our players get carried away with any success that comes there way. Making the Last 32 of the Nedbank Cup is an achievement on its own, but as I said earlier, the Vodacom League remains our primary goal and we are working towards success in that competition first.”
