“We don't want to look back, but, considering that we reached the final in the last cup competition (MTN8), we want to go one better this time,” stresses coach Steve Komphela ahead of Amakhosi’s Telkom Knockout Last 16 fixture against Platinum Stars.

The two sides face each other at the Moruleng Stadium on Sunday afternoon (kick-off is at 15:00).

“We know about the hot conditions that will await us in Moruleng,” says Komphela, “but I am confident that we will adapt.”

“We respect Platinum Stars, they have a good side and they are on top of their game at the moment. However, we have to go past them because we want to, ultimately, win this cup.”

“We travelled to the North West minus Tsepo Masilela,” adds Komphela, “as he is suspended due to having collected four yellow cards.”

Players still out with injury include Daniel Cardoso, David Zulu, Philani Cele and Simphiwe Mtsweni, while Itumeleng Khune’s participation is doubtful due to a niggling knee injury.

The Telkom Knockout meetings between the two sides have in recent years become a kind of repetition, given that they played each other in this cup competition in 2006, 2011, 2013 and 2014.

Dikwena have become a bit of a hoodoo team, considering that they won on all four occasions in these Telkom Knockout clashes.

Amakhosi coach Komphela, however, is unfazed by these stats, vowing that this cycle will be broken on Sunday.

The tickets for Sunday’s Telkom Knockout match are available at Computicket and Shoprite/Checkers outlets nationwide at a cost of R40 for adults and R10 for children.