Golden Arrows and Platinum Stars will square off in a Nedbank Cup quarterfinal clash at the Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban on Saturday.Kick-off is at 3:00pm.
Abafana Bes’thende have reached the last eight of this lucrative competition for the first time since 2015. They were beaten by SuperSport United 1-0 in Polokwane.
Arrows drew 1-1 with Ajax Cape Town in their last competitive game last weekend. Nkanyiso Mngwengwe netted for Abafana Bes’thende in an Absa Premiership clash in Durban.
The stalemate extended the Durban side’s winless run to two matches. Before the two league games, Arrows had won three consecutive matches in all competitions.
This includes the 1-0 win over Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup last 16 encounter in Tshwane. Nduduzo Sibiya scored the only goal of the match nearly two weeks ago.
Kudakwashe Mahachi is slowly regaining his old form for Abafana Bes’thende. The Zimbabwe winger, who has one goal in this year’s Nedbank Cup, will be looking to fire Clinton Larsen’s side into the semifinals.
Arrows goalkeeper Nkosingiphile Gumede has made it clear that they want to beat Stars and go on to win this season’s Nedbank Cup.
“We cannot allow Stars to stop us from advancing,” Gumede said.
“Based on how we have been working hard lately, I think we should be able to go past them. We have set out to win the Nedbank Cup.
“My confidence is quite high because the technical team have shown faith in me. I think I am reaping the rewards of hard work,” he added.
“That is what happens in life if you work hard, you get rewarded.”
Meanwhile, Stars are hoping to reach the semifinals of this Cup for the first time since 2015. They were beaten 3-2 by SuperSport in extra-time in Rustenburg.
Dikwena are coming off 1-0 away defeat to Polokwane City in their last competitive match, which was an Absa Premiership encounter in midweek.
This was the Rusteburg side’s third defeat in their last five matches in all competitions. The other two matches were victories over Ivorian side AS Tanda and Baroka FC.
A narrow 1-0 victory over Baroka in Polokwane, with Ndumiso Mabena scoring in extra-time, helped Dikwena book their place in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals over two weeks ago.
Robert Ng’ambi remains Dikwena’s key player in the midfield. The Malawian midfielder, who has one goal in this year’s Nedbank Cup, will be eager to inspire his side to victory over Arrows.
Stars assistant coach Alan Clark says they know what to expect from Arrows and that his side will do their best in order to progress into the next round.
“We would have loved a home fixture but we have done well against Arrows this season. They are a very good attacking team,” Clark said.
“We know what to expect from them. We are going to be at our best in order to progress to the next round of the competition.
“We are happy with the draw. We are happy to have our name in the hat. Hopefully we have our name in the hat for the next round.”
Arrows and Stars have already met twice in the Absa Premiership this season. Dikwena beat Abafana Be’sthende 1-0 and 2-0 to complete a league double over them.
