“It will be tough,” Erick Mathoho looks ahead to the Nedbank Cup Last 32 clash against Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium on Saturday, 5 March 2016 (kick-off is at 15:00).

The lanky defender has been in excellent form in recent matches, even finding the back of the net regularly.

“Scoring goals makes me happy,” Mathoho says. “However, it’s thanks to my teammates that I get goal scoring opportunities. The supply has been excellent from, among others, Siphiwe Tshabalala.”

The 26-year-old has already scored three league goals, while he also netted twice in both cup and CAF Champions League encounters (four in total).

With these seven goals (scored in official matches), the defender has netted one less than Kaizer Chiefs’ top goal scorer George Lebese, who scored eight times this season.

Mathoho’s most recent finish was the equaliser in the one-all draw against Polokwane City.

He also netted earlier in the season in the Soweto Derby. Sadly, however, that game was won 3-1 by Orlando Pirates.

His recent partner in central defence, Lorenzo Gordinho, is suspended for the Nedbank Cup fixture. But Mathoho is not too worried about his absence, stressing that coach Steve Komphela has several quality alternatives for the centre-back position, including Morgan Gould, Siyanda Xulu and Ivan Bukenya.

About Saturday’s Nedbank Cup Last 32 fixture against the Buccaneers, Mathoho notes: “It won’t be easy. However, we want to progress to the next round of the Nedbank Cup. We just have to be ready and we will fight to achieve our goal.”

Tickets for the Nedbank Cup Soweto Derby can be purchased at Computicket and Shoprite Checkers stores nationwide. The tickets will sell for R100 (level 1 and 2), R80 (level 3) and R15 for children under the age of 12. Parking tickets will cost R30.