Posted in News, Team News on Feb 07, 2021.
Kaizer Chiefs are eager to get their 2021 Nedbank Cup campaign underway as they go in search of a record extending 14th title in the competition they first won in 1971. Their first step will be to overcome Glad Africa Championship side Richards Bay in the round of 32 at FNB Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Chiefs who last lifted the trophy in 2013, will be looking to end their eight-year run in the competition without winning it in the current campaign, and will be out to celebrate the 50th anniversary of winning the title in 1971 by trying to replicate that success.
Midfielder Willard Katsande was in the Chiefs team that picked up the trophy in 2013 and is looking forward to starting the competition in a positive way. “I remember the 2013 final - we played SuperSport and Bernard Parker scored the winning goal in the 105th minute,” confirms Katsande. “To get to that final, we had to beat a team from the second tier, United FC in the semi-finals. We start against Richards Bay and we basically know how it is to play these teams. We just need to keep our focus and go to the next round.”
Katsande also feels that having coach Gavin Hunt guide the team in the Nedbank Cup is an added bonus given his past experience and success in the tournament. “We played against Gavin Hunt in the 2013 final and he knows what it means to play in these type of cup games.”
Scorer of Chiefs goal in their 1-0 win in the 2013 final against SuperSport Bernard Parker feels that Chiefs have the ability to push themselves and go far in the tournament. “What we know about winning these types of cup games is to have a persistent fighting spirit. That is what keeps you in theses games. In the 2013 final, it was just one chance and it went into the goal. We need to recreate those great memories,” says Parker.
While Parker and Katsande have tasted victory in this tournament, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo wants to taste that winning feeling and is willing to lay everything out on the field against Richards Bay to make sure Chiefs give themselves a chance of trying to get close to silverware. An eager Ngcobo says: “We as young players would also like to get that feeling of winning a cup for Chiefs. I am really looking forward to playing in the 2020/21 Nedbank Cup.
Another one of Chiefs’ young brigade Happy Mashiane has good memories of this tournament as he made his debut for Amakhosi in the competition back in the round of 32 in 2019. The result was a 1-0 win over lower division opponents Tornado FC. Reflecting on the special place the Nedbank Cup holds for him he says: “People might not know that I made my official debut in the Nedbank Cup on 27 January 2019 against Tornado in East London - that’s where I made my breakthrough. I got injured along the way, but we made it all the way to the final in 2019. It’s time now we work harder to achieve the common goal of winning the Nedbank Cup.”
Gavin Hunt will be targeting a fourth appearance in the Nedbank Cup final, having been there on three previous occasions. Most importantly, he will be looking for a good win in the round of 32 to help Chiefs build a platform which could eventually lead to cup glory.
The match will be live on DStv Channel 202. Kick-off is at 17:00.
Midfielder Willard Katsande was in the Chiefs team that picked up the trophy in 2013 and is looking forward to starting the competition in a positive way. “I remember the 2013 final - we played SuperSport and Bernard Parker scored the winning goal in the 105th minute,” confirms Katsande. “To get to that final, we had to beat a team from the second tier, United FC in the semi-finals. We start against Richards Bay and we basically know how it is to play these teams. We just need to keep our focus and go to the next round.”
Katsande also feels that having coach Gavin Hunt guide the team in the Nedbank Cup is an added bonus given his past experience and success in the tournament. “We played against Gavin Hunt in the 2013 final and he knows what it means to play in these type of cup games.”
Scorer of Chiefs goal in their 1-0 win in the 2013 final against SuperSport Bernard Parker feels that Chiefs have the ability to push themselves and go far in the tournament. “What we know about winning these types of cup games is to have a persistent fighting spirit. That is what keeps you in theses games. In the 2013 final, it was just one chance and it went into the goal. We need to recreate those great memories,” says Parker.
While Parker and Katsande have tasted victory in this tournament, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo wants to taste that winning feeling and is willing to lay everything out on the field against Richards Bay to make sure Chiefs give themselves a chance of trying to get close to silverware. An eager Ngcobo says: “We as young players would also like to get that feeling of winning a cup for Chiefs. I am really looking forward to playing in the 2020/21 Nedbank Cup.
Another one of Chiefs’ young brigade Happy Mashiane has good memories of this tournament as he made his debut for Amakhosi in the competition back in the round of 32 in 2019. The result was a 1-0 win over lower division opponents Tornado FC. Reflecting on the special place the Nedbank Cup holds for him he says: “People might not know that I made my official debut in the Nedbank Cup on 27 January 2019 against Tornado in East London - that’s where I made my breakthrough. I got injured along the way, but we made it all the way to the final in 2019. It’s time now we work harder to achieve the common goal of winning the Nedbank Cup.”
Gavin Hunt will be targeting a fourth appearance in the Nedbank Cup final, having been there on three previous occasions. Most importantly, he will be looking for a good win in the round of 32 to help Chiefs build a platform which could eventually lead to cup glory.
The match will be live on DStv Channel 202. Kick-off is at 17:00.
