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Tuks hungry to claim top-flight scalp in Nedbank Cup

football12 March 2024 08:51
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Thabang Sibanyoni © Gallo Images

The University of Pretoria will be hungry to claim the top-flight scalp of Moroka Swallows when the teams open the Round of 16 in the Nedbank Cup with a clash at the Tuks Stadium on the evening of Wednesday, 13 March.

Kick-off is at 7pm CAT.

Form

University of Pretoria earned their place in the last 16 by defeating Venda FC on penalties in the preliminaries in late 2023 and top-flight Cape Town Spurs 1-0 (with a penalty from Delano Abrahams) on February 21.

AmaTuks are unbeaten in 13 matches across all competitions, most recently defeating Hungry Lions 2-1 in the Motsepe Foundation Championship thanks to a brace from Thabang Sibanyoni. They are placed second on the log, just one point behind leaders Magesi FC, and pushing hard to earn promotion back to the top division.

Swallows, meanwhile, squeezed into the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup with a penalty shootout win over second-tier Platinum City Rovers on February 24.

The Birds have not claimed an outright win in any of their last 12 matches across all competitions, and this past weekend saw them handed a heavy 4-1 home defeat by Sekhukhune United in a DStv Premiership clash. The Soweto side have dropped to 14th on the table, though they do at least have a seven-point buffer to the relegation playoff zone.

All of this has been exacerbated by wrangles, strikes and dismissals between the club, players and coaches in recent months.

What the teams are saying

University of Pretoria coach Tlisani Motaung on up-and-coming players seizing their chance in the Nedbank Cup:

“I know the structure here. It is more [important] to unearth the talent, kids that should show potential and we will give them an opportunity to showcase what they have. There will be a couple of players that we will bring through this tournament [Nedbank Cup], which is important for us. I’m of the view that they are going to take the opportunity with two hands and deliver and showcase their talent to the whole continent.”

Moroka Swallows co-coach Musa Nyatama on trying to rescue their season:

“It has been a very difficult task for us, with new players coming in. But they are gelling and trying their utmost to get into the new philosophy of how Swallows plays. It will take time. [The off-field problems] is not something that we want to dwell on, we just want to help the team and the club.”

Players to watch

University of Pretoria

Samuel Julies – The former Mamelodi Sundowns, Chippa United and Ajax Cape Town midfielder has established himself as a cornerstone of this Tuks team and will relish the chance to battle the Dube Birds in a knockout clash.

Thabang Sibanyoni – Fresh from a brace against Hungry Lions this past weekend, Sibanyoni will be hoping to further enhance his burgeoning reputation by spearheading a win over Moroka Swallows on Wednesday.

Moroka Swallows

Jacob Everson – The young attacker has been one of the players who is looking to make the most of his opportunity, despite Swallows’ struggles, and he scored their only goal in the 4-1 defeat at the hands of Sekhukhune United this past weekend.

Daniel Akpeyi – In the midst of their difficulties, the Birds will need their most experienced players, such as international goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, to step forward and play a leadership role as they look to steady the ship.

Head-to-head

In head-to-head stats, Tuks and Swallows have met in three previous cup matches, with the Birds enjoying a two-to-one win advantage. The clubs’ most famous cup meeting was in the final of the 2008/09 edition of this very competition, which the Soweto side won 1-0 thanks to a strike from Vinicius Da Silva.

Overall, the teams have met in 13 matches across all competitions, with the University of Pretoria claiming six wins compared to four for Swallows, with three games drawn. The teams’ most recent meetings were in the promotion-relegation playoffs in June 2022, with a 0-0 draw in Pretoria and a 1-0 win for Swallows in Soweto.

Head-to-Head (since 2008/09)

PREVIOUS CUP MEETINGS

Season Cup Result Scorers

2008/09 Nedbank Cup final Swallows 1-0 U Pretoria Da Silva

2013/14 Telkom KO last 16 Swallows 1-0 U Pretoria Manqele

2014/15 Nedbank Cup last 32 U Pretoria 2-1 Swallows Mosadi, Nyondo; Isaacs

CUP RECORD

P W D L GF GA

U Pretoria 3 1 0 2 2 3

Swallows 3 2 0 1 3 2

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS (Top flight only)

Season Result Scorers

2012/13 Swallows 2-3 U Pretoria Mashego, Chenene; Niang 2, Maruping

2012/13 U Pretoria 1-1 Swallows Mosadi; Nomvethe

2013/14 Swallows 1-0 U Pretoria Chabangu

2013/14 U Pretoria 2-1 Swallows Massa, Kekana; Da Costa

2014/15 Swallows 2-3 U Pretoria Chabangu, Obada; Nyondo, Mnyamane, Jaure

2014/15 U Pretoria 1-1 Swallows Nyondo; Wana

OVERALL RECORD (all competitions, including NFD and playoffs)

P W D L GF GA

U Pretoria 13 6 3 4 17 15

Swallows 13 4 3 6 15 17

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