Sekhukhune United will be underdogs as they face Stellenbosch FC in the Nedbank Cup.
In the previous round Stellenbosch ended Mamelodi Sundowns’ hope of winning a treble of trophies after beating them at Athlone Stadium in the Nedbank Cup quarter-final.
An Iqraam Rayners double in the second half cancelled out Aubrey Modiba’s first-half opener.
Sekhukhune United defender Daniel Cardoso has identified two Stellenbosch FC players that could hurt them.
Cardoso is worried about goal-poacher Iqraam Rayners and midfielder Junior Mendieta, saying the duo have played a huge role in Stellies’ good run in the competition this season.
“Stellenbosch are in great form, they have beaten the champions (Mamelodi Sundowns). They are scoring goals from transitions and they have been great. Rayners has been one of their outstanding players since he went back, Mendieta has been outstanding. It will be a tough game,” said the former Kaizer Chiefs defender.
“Also, going into this game (against Stellies), we drew (1-1 against TS Galaxy in the DStv Premiership). So we know what’s at stake. We have shifted our focus to this game, the Nedbank Cup. We have to forget about the league for now and I think we can go over the hurdle and make it to the final.”
Rayners has racked up 15 goals in all competitions for Stellenbosch, including scoring the brace that eliminated champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals.
And with such players out to haunt them and eager to take Stellenbosch to the final at Loftus on 27 May, Cardoso said they must dust themselves off quickly from their shortcomings in the league.