Sting like a bee! That's what the Eastern Cape amateur club EC Bees have been doing since their formation in 2013.
Playing in the third tier of SA football, Bees have been to the last 32 of the Nedbank Cup three times in the past three years, only managing to go through to the last 16 after beating fellow amateurs Mariveni United of Limpopo 3-1 away last Sunday.
In 2016 Bees were knocked out by Magesi FC, but last year everyone noticed them when they locked horns with Orlando Pirates at a packed Sisa Dukashe Stadium where they lost 3-1 to the Buccaneers.
Bees coach Vuyisile Njedu has been with the club since its formation and has promised to give their last-16 opponents and four-time winners, Mamelodi Sundowns, a torrid time in Pretoria early next month."Sundowns will be making a huge mistake if they think we are Powerlines FC (the Kimberley amateur team Sundowns beat 24-0 in this competition in 2012)," said Njedu, whose team came close to gaining promotion to the National First Division in June last year.
"This will be a good platform for our team and the boys to market themselves. But more importantly we want to show everyone that we didn't reach this stage by mistake."
Njedu is grateful to the sponsors who covered the costs of their trip to Limpopo last week and is happy that Nedbank will also fly them to Sundowns.
"As an amateur team we don't have money for long-distance travelling but our boss Nceba Ntlasana has been doing a fantastic job looking after the team with no sponsors coming to our assistance," said Njedu.
What has brought success to this King William's Town-based club, according to Njedu, is the recruitment drive they embark on before the start of every season.
"We've got players from all over South Africa because we have an intense selection programme."Our dream is to move up to the First Division and we are still in the race this season as we are second on the log in the ABC Motsepe League (Eastern Cape)."
Playing against Sundowns is a big deal for Bees players as Njedu reckons it presents a stage for them to showcase their talents and possibly move to bigger clubs.
"We'll be glad if this match against Sundowns results in one or two of our players getting a professional contract somewhere.
"It is just one of very few ways of bringing the kind of talent we have to the fore," said the coach.
Is Njedu fancying an upset against the former African Champions?
"Well, I can never rule that out but what's more important for Bees is to show everyone how far we have progressed since our game against Pirates."..