Cale eager for TKO derby clash
SuperSport United midfielder Franklin Cale is looking forward to facing his former side when United take on Mamelodi Sundowns in the semi-finals of the Telkom Knockout cup competition.
"I actually didn't expect it (to be drawn against Sundowns) but I am quite happy," Cale said at the draw in Johannesburg on Monday.
"It's not going to be easy, it will be a tough game, because it's a derby, but I'm actually excited because I love playing against them.
"It's my former team and you always want to do well against your former team."
Cale believed United would be in for a tough encounter against their bitter rivals.
"We played Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup final this year and it is going to be an awesome game," he said.
"Sundowns are playing very good football at the moment and it's going to be a hard and a tough game."
Sundowns striker Anthony Laffor said the Brazilians, who have struggled in the league this season, would need to be in top form if they are to reach the final.
"We just need to concentrate," Laffor said. "If you watch their games, they have been playing well, and if we can maintain our composure in the first 45 minutes, I think we can beat SuperSport."
Laffor was confident the Brazilians, who beat AmaZulu 2-0 in their quarterfinal on Saturday, would be able to go all the way in the knockout competition.
"The most important thing is that we scored twice against Amazulu," Laffor said. "We are breaking the deadlocks, so we just need to move forward.
"Our confidence is high and in the Telkom Knockout we have done very well. I think we just need to keep it up and listen to our coach's instructions, because then nothing will be able to stop us."
In the other semifinal, Free State Stars host Bloemfontein Celtic in another derby match.
Stars knocked Wits out of the competition by way of a penalty shootout, after the scores were locked at 0-0 after extra time, while Celtic also had to rely on a shootout to advance, beating defending champions Orlando Pirates on Sunday.
The Premier Soccer League said dates and times of the fixtures for the penultimate round would be confirmed at a later stage.
