Soccer
Chiefs keen to avenge defeats
2012-02-07 17:09
Vladimir Vermezovic (File)
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Johannesburg - Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs hope to avoid another minnow embarrassment in this year's cross-league Nedbank Cup.
The country's glamour side, previously defeated by teams in the lower divisions, do not want a repeat of their recent Nedbank Cup escapades, according to coach Vladimir Vermezovic.
This year's draw, conducted on Monday, pitted Chiefs against third division Cape Town All Stars, a club that was formed just two years ago.
"We have not done well in the past, and that will have to change this season," Vermezovic said.
"We will fight much harder this time around."
The Capetonians, lying second in the Vodacom League, are making a challenge for promotion to the National First Division and All Stars manager Faeez Dulvie was confident of a victory over Amakhosi.
"Let's wait until the game starts but all I can say is that we can swim with the best," Dulvie said.
"We are obviously excited about being here for the first time, and will aim at making an impact in the tournament."
The defending champions, Orlando Pirates, also have a tricky fixture as they travel to the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast to face amateur outfit Ethekwini Coastal Stars.
"It's going to be a good experience for the club, and we will not be going into the match thinking about losing," said Coastal Stars coach Lindani Shezi said.
"I admit I wasn't expecting to draw one the big guns - maybe a game against the smaller teams to give us a bit of a warm-up.
"Everything is possible, though, and you do know the history of this competition and big upsets."
There are five other meetings betwee Premiership sides and lower division teams in the first round.
Arrows host North-West Shining Stars from Brits, near Rustenburg, while Free State Stars take on Sivutsa Stars, and struggling Santos meet the University of Pretoria - the first division side who were finalists four years ago.
SuperSport United, league champions for three of the last four seasons, take on Batau FC from Ermelo, and Jomo Cosmos, bottom of the Premiership, play African Warriors.