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22 January 2020
Cape Town City will be returning to the scene of one of the biggest disappointments in the club’s short history when they face Mbombela United in the Nedbank Cup Last 32 on Sunday, February 9.
The Nedbank Cup is a competition that is "very important" for City this season according to their Dutch coach Jan Olde Riekerink, but there may be some scarred players from their last trip to Mpumalanga to meet lower league opposition. That was in their maiden season as a club in 2016/17 when they faced ABC Motsepe League Acornbush United and despite being in excellent form under then coach Eric Tinkler, slipped to a shock 1-0 loss.
Current captain Thami Mkhize, defender Edmilson and Austrian midfielder Roland Putsche all played that day, and will want to go some way to erasing the memory by getting a victory over GladAfrica Championship side United. "The Nedbank Cup a big goal," Olde Riekerink admitted. "I know how important cup games are and how important it is to win cup competitions. It is a big prize. For the club it is very important." Olde Riekerink has tasted cup glory before as a coach, he led top Turkish side Galatasaray to that country's FA Cup in 2016.
City may have only been in existence for three-and-a-half years, but they have already won the Top Eight trophy and the League Cup. Adding the Nedbank Cup to their trophy cabinet would complete the set of domestic knockout competitions. Olde Riekerink admits he knows little about their Last 32 opponents, but says they will devise a plan that works best for the players selected on the day.
"We only emphasise the game, how we will play and the opposition. They [the players] always work good and I hope they will show it. "My style of play...I have to use the players the best way to suit their quality. We have players who are very good on transition, but the style of playing has more to with when you put pressure and how compact you are."
Former City coach Benni McCarthy spoke often about how he was relishing the chance to tackle a lower division side in the Nedbank Cup, which evokes the spirit of the competition. But the draw was not kind to him, his six matches in charge were against BidVest Wits, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, SuperSport United, Highlands Park and Kaizer Chiefs.
*The views represented are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent those of Nedbank.