The last-32 round of matches of the Nedbank Cup Competition will take place at various venues across the country this weekend. Locally, Mpheni Defenders will host Hungry Lions at the Thohoyandou Stadium in a much-anticipated clash on Sunday afternoon.
Hungry Lions will have only themselves to blame if they fail to secure a spot in the last 16. The Northern Cape side competes in the Motsepe Foundation Championship League, while Defenders are an ABC Motsepe League affiliate in the Limpopo Stream. Although Defenders are strong contenders for their league title, defeating Hungry Lions will be a formidable challenge.
Despite the odds, Defenders' head coach, Mr Sydwell Phuravhathu, has issued a bold warning to Hungry Lions. He promised that his team would not show any undue respect to their opponents on the field. Phuravhathu assured fans that if Hungry Lions underestimated his players, they would be in for a shock on Sunday. He also reaffirmed his team's ambition to reach the quarter-final stage of the competition.
Last year, Mpheni Defenders exited the tournament at the hands of Betway Premiership side Chippa United in the last 16 round.
Hungry Lions will need to keep a close watch on key Defenders players such as Freedom Nyundu, Fisters Magodimisa, and Muhluri Hlungwani, or they risk an early exit from the tournament.
Hungry Lions did not return to Kimberley after their 1-1 league draw against Baroka FC at the Global Stadium in Lebowakgomo last Saturday. Instead, they opted to stay in Limpopo for the week to acclimatise to the local weather conditions. Their head coach, Mr Henry Basie, expressed confidence that the extended stay would give his players a better chance to adapt and perform at their best on Sunday.