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FC Buffalo eyeing Chiefs upset

Johannesburg - FC Buffalo midfielder Phehello Pitso says his team have what it takes to upset defending Nedbank Cup champions Kaiser Chiefs when the two clash in the second round of the knockout tournament.

FC Buffalo are the only surviving Safa Second Division team left in the competition, but Pitso was adamant the Port Elizabeth outfit could overturn massive odds in order to defeat the current Premiership log-leaders.

"I wanted to play against a big team so that we can beat them. To play against Chiefs will be good motivation for us," Pitso said at the draw for the last 16.

"Anything can happen when you draw a big team. I was expecting Chiefs.

"In a Cup like this, Chiefs lose against smaller teams, they will take us [lightly]. If you play against a small team, [sometimes] the coach changes the lineup and that's why we are going to beat them."

Buffalo beat FC Cape Town 2-0 on Wednesday and booked their spot in the country's most lucrative Cup competition, but now face the daunting prospect of taking on last season's winners.

Pitso, however, was dismissive of Chiefs' chances and believed Buffalo would put it all on the line as Port Elizabeth finally had a team to back heading into the latter stages of the tournament.

"I'm happy for their support. They must also come to support us when we play against Chiefs," Pitso said.

Chiefs midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane believed the draw was one that favoured Chiefs, but admitted the lowly second division side deserved plenty of praise for progressing into the second round.

"[We are] happy with the draw... Buffalo have done really well to get to this point," Letsholonyane said.

"It won't be easy playing against the so-called 'smaller' teams. We're happy and I'm sure by the time we play against them, we'll be ready.

"Obviously we can't afford to take them lightly and we will make sure that we approach the game just like any other."

The Amakhosi playmaker added that his team were the ones under pressure to do well against a team many expected to drop out during the preliminary rounds of the competition.

"They have nothing to lose but everything to gain and we have to keep on our winning momentum," he said.

"We have pressure to win against them."

Elsewhere, an all-Premiership clash awaits after the draw pitted Moroka Swallows against SuperSport United in what will be the tie of the round.

United defender Bevan Fransman said he was happy with the draw despite the Premiership opposition.

"It's a tough draw against tough opponents but we don't dictate the fixtures," Fransman said.

"We've played Swallows already this season and it was again a tough outing but we'll be up for it."

Chiefs' neighbours Orlando Pirates, meanwhile, were drawn away from home and will face National First Division outfit Santos in Cape Town.

Pirates midfielder Thandani Ntshumayelo warned that travelling to the Mother City was never an easy task, particularly against a motivated Santos outfit, who are also challenging to get promoted up to the Premiership.

"Since I arrived at Pirates, going to Cape Town, we struggle to win there," Ntshumayelo said.

"But we want to change that. We want to go as quickly as possible in order to get back to winning ways down there."

Nedbank Cup last 16 draw (home team listed first):

AmaZulu v Wits

Moroka Swallows v SuperSport United,

Bloemfontein Celtic v Witbank Spurs

Kaizer Chiefs v FC Buffalo

Platinum Stars v Maritzburg United

African Warriors v Milano United

Golden Arrows v Mamelodi Sundowns

Santos v Orlando Pirates

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