Spurs eyeing Nedbank Cup glory against Venda

Cape Town Spurs will be looking forward to their next outing in the Nedbank Cup when they go up against Venda Football Academy in the Round of 32 at the Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Kick-off is at 15:00 CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM

Venda Football Academy have appointed a new head coach in Stanford Nkoane, and are targeting better results for the remainder of the season.

The team was previously led by Serbian coach Vladislav Heric, who was sacked on Christmas Day. He was in charge of 10 games in the Motsepe Foundation Championship with a record of two wins, two draws and six losses.

As for Cape Town Spurs, the team is struggling to find their feet in the MFC under coach Ernst Middendorp but have recently enjoyed better results.

Coming off the back of a win and a draw, the Urban Warriors will be keen to keep up an unbeaten run in the Nedbank Cup and possibly progress to the Round of 16 stage of the tournament.

WHAT WAS SAID

Former Ajax Cape Town (now CT Spurs) player Mkhanyiseli Siwahla has shared what he thinks about the club’s current struggles in the National First Division.

“First of all, I love the team. I grew up there and I did almost everything at that club. I got so much respect for the club,” said Siwahla in a recent interview with FARPost.

“But, everything starts with the coach. If the coach doesn’t do the right things, the team will find itself in such a situation.

“For me, I blame the coach. The coach, I think is the one who made the team struggle, and that is my opinion.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Zebulon Mtshweni, Venda Football Academy — With utility player Tatenda Tavengwa out after receiving a red card in the MFC, Mtsweni will have the opportunity to step up and show what he’s made of in the playmaker’s absence in defence.

Therlo Moosa, Cape Town Spurs — The dynamic forward has scored for the Urban Warriors in their last two matches and will be eager to carry out that same form to possibly get the team over the line in the Nedbank Cup.

HEAD-TO-HEAD (since 2021/22)

PREVIOUS CUP MEETINGS

N/A – This will be the first cup meeting of Venda FC and Cape Town Spurs.