'We'll have a go at Kaizer Chiefs,' says Stellenbosch FC coach Sammy Troughton

Stellenbosch FC coach Sammy Troughton says his side will “have a go” at Kaizer Chiefs in their Nedbank Cup Last 32 clash at the Athlone Stadium on Saturday night.

Troughton dismissed a cautious approach for his National First Division side‚ saying to sit back and invite pressure from the AmaKhosi would be “suicidal”.

Instead they will look to take the game to the Soweto giants and try to pressurise the 13-time Nedbank Cup winners into errors.

“We go in with belief‚” Troughton says.

“I am going to have a go at Chiefs.

"They are on a good run and it is going to be very tough‚ but I think we can ask some questions of them.

“I’m confident we can give them a competitive game‚ though if we get hammered by four or five [goals]‚ then you think about that afterwards.

"I have a feeling they are going to come with a strong team‚ they also need to do well in the cup.

• EC Bees say they are buzzing to sting Pirates with unlucky defeat No.13Eastern Cape Bees mostly watch – and to some extent even idolise – Orlando Pirates on TV‚ so will need no motivation coming up against them in the flesh in Sunday’s Nedbank Cup last-32 match in East London‚ said their coach Chippa Njedu. 

“I don’t think the right way to go is to sit back and defend and try and hold out.

"We have to try and take the game against them.

"If we encourage Chiefs to build up and have possession‚ that could be suicidal.”

Troughton says the mismatch in the stature of the clubs is obvious‚ but that it gives his side the opportunity to write their names into folklore.

“It really is a David vs Goliath clash when you take into account the rich history of Kaizer Chiefs and the fact that Stellenbosch FC is only seven months old.

“We might have come out of the old Vasco da Gama‚ but we have relocated the club‚ changed the name and changed the set-up.

• EC Bees host Pirates, Chiefs to face Stellenbosch FC in Nedbank Cup Last 32Kaizer Chiefs will travel to National First Division side Stellenbosch FC in the Last 32 of the Nedbank Cup, while Orlando Pirates are away at Bisho-based EC Bees after the draw was made on Thursday. 

"We have a lot of young players and for them this will be a fantastic experience.

“Most will have never experienced an atmosphere like we expect to see at Athlone on Saturday.

“I am still going to select my Under-23 players.

"I wouldn’t want to miss this opportunity to play the 19- and 20-year-olds and give them this experience.

"Our last game [2-1 home win over Black Leopards] was a good performance and the majority of that starting XI will play.”

There are a number of other opportunities for giant-killing acts this weekend‚ not least when Ajax Cape Town travel to the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban to take on third-tier Kwadukuza United.

Ajax are sweating on defender Mosa Lebusa and Rivaldo Coetzee‚ who has an ankle knock‚ and coach Stanley Menzo admits he knows next to nothing about his opponents.

“It’s good to play Nedbank Cup games against teams you don’t know‚ it’s a good challenge.

• 'We have been following players all over the world,' says Bafana interim coach Da GamaOwen da Gama wanted to retain the core of the side that beat Senegal in November in his Bafana Bafana squad for this month’s two friendlies‚ while also introducing youth and recalling players who had been overlooked. 

"For the opponents it is nice to play against a PSL team‚” Menzo said.

“We don’t know a lot about them and as a PSL team playing a lower league side‚ you have a lot to lose and nothing to win.

“I tried to find some information‚ I know the coach [Thami Ngubane]‚ he is an experienced coach and the team did well in 2015 [as Natal United] when they beat Chippa United and lost to Golden Arrows.

“We will respect them and not take it easy. I hate losing.”

ABC Motsepe League side Buya Msuthu host Bloemfontein Celtic on Saturday afternoon‚ while fourth-tier United Rovers FC are away at Jomo Cosmos.

FC Cape Town host top-flight strugglers Baroka FC and coach Johnny Ferreira says he is reading little into the coaching shenanigans at the Limpopo club that has this week seen Milton Dlamini join as co-coach alongside the reinstated Kgoloko Thobejane.

• Letsholonyane has not given up hope of playing for Bafana Bafana againAt the ripe age of 34‚ veteran SuperSport United midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane has not given up hope of playing for Bafana Bafana again. 

“I don’t look at all of that stuff and what is being said‚” Ferreira says.

“I just look at how we can beat them and although they are a very good side‚ I have a lot of admiration for how they play‚ I believe we can win.

“I think we were the only team that went there and won in the NFD last season when they were promoted and this time we are at home.”

Sunday sees more clashes between minnow sides and top-flight teams‚ not least the visit of struggling Orlando Pirates to the Sisa Dukashe Stadium to face EC Bees.

It is a huge chance for Pirates to snap their 12-game unbeaten run‚ but coach Kjell Jonevret warns they are going into the game almost blind.

“For me the cups have always been the important thing – I think I’ve won seven or eight as player and coach‚” Jonevret said.

• Teenagers Mahlambi and Singh named in Bafana squad, Erasmus and Mokotjo get recallsBafana Bafana caretaker-coach Owen da Gama named an adventurous squad for two friendlies in March that included a recall for Kamohelo Mokotjo‚ and call-ups for SA Under-20 internationals Luther Singh and Phakamani Mahlambi. 

“But at the same time I know how it is with these games that everybody expects you to win.

“I hate them because it’s always about them fighting like never before.

"You don’t really know how the stadium is.

“So it will be tough.

"And we’re going to go there with what we think is the best for the day.”

In other games on Sunday‚ Lamontville Golden Arrows host Maritzburg United‚ Cape Town City travel to third-tier Acornbush United from Mpumalanga and fourth-tier Days FC host Mbombela United in Welkom.

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport