Following the draws for the Nedbank Cup round of 32 that were conducted at the Nedbank offices in Sandton last Thursday evening, the head coach of Mpheni Home Defenders FC, Mr Sydwell Phuravhathu, has every reason to rejoice. His team have been pitted against their peers from the Western Cape, Clarewood FC.
Apart from the fact that Home Defenders will play against a team from the ABC Motsepe League in the last-32 round, the Mpheni side will play the game in front of their home crowd. Although the Premier Soccer League is still to announce the dates and venues for the matches, Home Defenders' game will be played at the Thohoyandou Stadium. According to Mr Phuravhathu, his club has registered Thohoyandou Stadium as its home ground for all their Nedbank Cup matches.
Asked whether their Nedbank Cup campaign would not affect their preparations for promotion to the higher division at the end of the season, Mr Phuravhathu was quick to state that his team was ready to absorb any amount of heat.
Home Defenders are currently shining on top of the log standings in Limpopo's Stream A of the ABC Motsepe League.
The other Vhembe-based side, Venda Football Academy (VFA), will play their last-32 match away from home. They will play against the Free State side, Blackcross FC.
The head coach of VFA, Mr Simo Dladla, said that the fact that they had been matched with an amateur side gave them the hope that they would proceed to the last-16 stage. Blackcross FC are campaigning in the ABC Motsepe League.
The other last-32 fixtures are: Superport United vs Dondol FC, Golden Arrows vs Pretoria Callies, Marumo Gallants vs Magesi FC, Mamelodi Sundowns vs Richards Bay FC, Cape Town Spurs vs Baroka FC, TS Galaxy vs Amavarara FC, Sekhukhune United vs Liver Brothers, Stellenbosch FC vs Swallows FC, Mkhambathi FC vs Casric Stars, Cape Town City vs Royal AM, Maritzburg United vs Kaizer Chiefs, All Stars vs Orlando Pirates, Polokwane City vs Chippa United and Amazulu vs Tornado FC.