Kaizer Chiefs will battle it out with Free State Stars in the last 32 of Nedbank Cup scheduled to start on the first weekend of March. This followed a draw that took place at sponsors’ headquarters in Sandton, Johannesburg on Monday.

The Nedbank Cup which is known to spring many surprises has over the years sent tongues wagging and it will not be different this year.

Chiefs were last year knocked out by rivals Mamelodi Sundowns via penalties in a pulsating quarter final match played in Durban.

“I wanted Mamelodi Sundowns,” joked Ertugral after the draw.

“In Free State Stars we meeting one of the inform teams in the league. We are expecting a tough encounter against them. We have two crucial league games to play before we meet them so the focus is on our next game,” he said.

Ertugral expressed his delight to renew acquaintances with his former colleague Steve Khompela who worked with him at Chiefs earlier in his coaching career.

Khompela a former Chiefs player himself spent some time in Turkey where Ertugral hails from.

“He is a Turk stuck in a black skin,” he said with a smile.

“I have known Steve for a while and he also knows my family back in Turkey. He also speaks fluent Turkish. I am proud of his achievements as a coach. He is definitely one of the best up and coming coaches in the country. "

“Together with his colleague, Themba Sithole they have turned Free State Stars into a quality team. They beat us in the league the last time we met but this time it will be a different ball game,” he concluded.

The Cup Committee will during the course of the week announce the dates and venues for the last 32.