The last 16 of the Nedbank Cup Knockout round begins tonight, Feb. 21 in Thohoyandou.
In a relatively easy draw, Black Leopards have the privilege to host a lower-level Amavarara FC at Thohoyandou Stadium.
Coming off an unfortunate narrow defeat at home to Orlando Pirates in the energy-supping Absa Premiership league, they could not have wished for a better proposition to ease up the weary legs. Although cup games are often unpredictable and competitive by their very nature, a win is written all over Lidoda Duvha wall. They might be ruminating, possibly, about walking all over these minnows.
Granted, throwing a caution to the wind is commonplace in an elimination tournament. More so with clubs from lower divisions. Their anonymity is an element of surprise too ghastly to dismiss lightly, even for the tried-and-tested Premiership teams.
Cup matches tend to drag and go all the way to penalty shootouts when extra-time does not determine the winner. From there, anything can happen.
Although The Eastern Cape-based 3rd-division club’s league performance is less than impressive as depicted on Data Sport Group (DSG), they managed to go past the round-of-32. One might argue that they had a fairly easy fixture in Super Eagles, thus beating them 2-1 on Feb. 8.
As fate would have it, they were playing in their own backyard. Moreover, Super Eagles were their peers from the 3rd-tier provincial league stakes. There was no challenge of higher proportions.
Amavarara have won two (2), lost two (2) and drew one (1) of their last five (5) ABC Motsepe League games according to DSG. In actual fact, they were defeated 3-2 at home in their recent league outing on Feb. 15, 2020.
On their path to the last 16, Black Leopards blew (3rd-division) North West University to smithereens [4-0] on Feb. 9 at the same venue Amavarara are gracing tonight. Truthfully, the odds are against them. Leopards should be smelling blood.
The Leopards-Amavarara elimination challenge will kick off at 20h00 (tonight).
This is the only fixture scheduled for Friday, others will follow suit in subsequent days.
Saturday Feb. 22 Nedbank Cup Fixtures:
Highlands Park vs Kaizer Chiefs at Makhulong Stadium – 15h00
Happy Wanderers vs TS Sporting at Princess Magogo Stadium – 15h00
Mbombela United vs Real Kings at Kanyamazane Stadium – 15h00
Bloemfontein Celtic vs Maritzburg United at Dr Molemela Stadium – 20h15
Sunday Feb. 23 Nedbank Cup Fixtures:
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Vaal University at Lucas Moripe Stadium – 15h00
Baroka FC vs Hungry Lions FC at Peter Mokaba Stadium – 15h00
Monday Feb. 24 Nedbank Cup Fixture:
Bidvest Wits vs Chippa United at Bidvest Stadium – 19h30