Defending champs SuperSport face Birds
Nedbank Cup holders SuperSport United will host Moroka Swallows in a Last 32 tie at the Lucas Moripe stadium on Saturday night, kick-off 6pm.
Matsatsantsa beat Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 in last year’s final and will be looking to win their fourth Nedbank Cup title. Gavin Hunt’s side have struggled in the league so far this season and will again depend on the cup to bag silverware this season.
Swallows have also struggled in the league after finishing as runners-up last season. The Dube Birds are currently 12th in the league and are also desperate to win the cup. Swallows last won the Nedbank Cup in 2009, beating University side AmaTuks 1-0 in the final.
Injured SuperSport United midfielder George Maluleka is confident that his side can shoot down the Dube Birds come Saturday night.
“The guys have been doing well, we were unfortunate not to bag all three points against AmaZulu, but the team will be ready and motivated to win on Saturday”.
Maluleka is wary of the threat Swallows possess and is under no illusion that the Dube Birds will come out guns blazing.
“Swallows are going to come and try a win, you never know what is going to happen in the cup, it’s a different ball game all together” added Maluleka.
Swallows come into the game on the back of a 1-1 stalemate against newcomers AmaTuks in the league. Swallows solitary goal was scored by veteran striker Siyabonga Nomvethe in the first half.
The Dube Birds will be delighted by Nomvethe’s current form. The Bafana Bafana striker has scored two goals in two games this year and he will be a key player for his side if they are to go all the way to the final.
Captain Lefa Tsutsulupa is happy about the form Nomvethe has shown despite not being happy with his team’s overall performance since the start of 2013. Nonetheless, he says his side are going to remain positive and are looking to have a good run in the Nedbank Cup competition.
“We are going to play positively and try and score goals, it’s a once off game and you never know what is going to happen in the cup,” said Tsutsulupa
“This is a must-win game so there'll be no holding back. We will go all out and make sure we get to the next round.
"I think it's important for us to win so that we start winning in the league, too. A win against SuperSport will boost our self-belief and we can take this to the league as well.”
Matsatsantsa like Swallows have also struggled in the league this season .United are currently 10th in the league, two points above Moroka Swallows.
The Tshwane outfit have struggled to win games and have notched up 12 draws out of 18 games so far this season.
The two teams locked horns earlier this season at Volkswagen Dobsonville stadium in an Absa Premier League match. Matsatsantsa were deserving 3-1 winners on the night.
