Yellow machine to descend on Thembisa

The love and respect that Highlands Park players and technical staff have for Mamelodi Sundowns will count for nothing when the two teams collide in the Nedbank Cup.

These were the words of Allan Freese, coach of the Lions of the North, as Highlands Park are fondly known by their avid fans when he addressed a media conference ahead of their encounter with the Brazilians.

Sundowns’ yellow machine, which is the Goliath of this encounter, will descend on Thembisa’s Mkhulong Stadium on 6 March to honour this last 32 fixture against the National First Division side in one of the most lucrative cup competitions of the Absa Premiership.

“We all know what Sundowns are capable of, they can rout all and sundry before them. But I am confident with adequate preparation my boys can stand their own ground,” said the 59-year-old Estcourt-born Freese.

“My players are looking forward to this game and so are the people of Thembisa. I have told… [the players] to just go out there and enjoy themselves. If they do well, they get to play another game but if they lose, they watch.”

The coach’s words were echoed by one of the team’s star players, Peter Shalulile, who said the spirit of the team was quite good and that they were not intimidated by the mighty Brazilians.

“We can’t wait for the game, and come what may, we shall give it our best shot and hope to come out with a good result,” said Shalulile who has a high regard for Downs’ star player, Khama Billiat.

“The respect we have for Sundowns and my players’ love for individual players within the team, will all count for nothing come 6 March,” added Freese, the former coach of premiership side, Platinum Stars.

The Nedbank Cup is the only cup competition in the Premier Soccer League that features 16 amateur teams in a cup competition with 16 of their professional counterparts from the Absa Premiership.

It has become popularly known as the David vs Goliath cup.