Chiefs to face off against king-killers CT City
In fact, Middendorp has only won two trophies in South Africa - during his first spell with Chiefs he delivered the SAA Super Eight and the Absa Cup.
Kaizer Chiefs are currently going through a barren run, having not lifted any silverware since 2015.
The last time they captured a winner’s medal was under the tenure of Stuart Baxter.
They captured the league title and the MTN8 in his last season with the club.
Therefore, their last hope of notching up silverware this season is the Nedbank Cup.
But The Glamour Boys will first have to get past red-hot Cape Town City.
The much-anticipated encounter will take place at Mbombela Stadium on Sunday.
Kick-off is at 15:30. Chiefs will expect to sweep past City. It’s no secret that they are in desperate need of this Cup.
But their opponents will not be rolling out any quality Mother City hospitality.
They have already delivered the MTN8 triumph to their trophy cabinet this season when they defeated SuperSport United in Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban at the start of the season to be crowned champions.
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Benni McCarthy, City coach, all-time leading goal scorer for Bafana Bafana, is in his second season as a head coach.
Last season he reached the final of the MTN8 but succumbed to Matsatsantsa A Pitori.
He also guided City into the top 8, which they managed to capture.
The bigger the challenge, the better McCarthy’s side seem to play.
City love nothing more than to mix it up with and beat the so-called heavyweights of South African football.
They have seen off glamour clubs Chiefs and Premier Soccer League leaders and defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, as well as former pacesetters Wits in the league this year.
It is this kind of mindset that gives City a realistic chance of being the only top-tier team in with a shot at landing a treble this season.
McCarthy’s charges have already been crowned MTN 8 champions and now have their sights set on league and Nedbank Cup honours.
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The Citizens are three points behind the log leaders.
They are fourth on the log with 40 points after 24 games, while the Brazilians are at the summit with 43 points after 23 games.
The Glamour Boys are not mathematically out of the Premiership title race, however, they are seven points behind leaders Sundowns and a challenge seems unlikely.
The incumbent boss at Amakhosi, Ernst Middendorp, has not won a trophy for more than 10 years in South Africa.
He failed to win any silverware during his stints with Maritzburg United, Chippa United, Free StateStars and Bloemfontein Celtic.
In fact, Middendorp has only won two trophies in South Africa – during his first spell with Chiefs he delivered the SAA Super Eight and the Absa Cup.
But that all happened back in 2006.
The two sides have already met twice this season.
City took a 4-1 beating in the first league game at Cape Town Stadium before exacting their revenge at the FNB Stadium at the end of January, thanks to a never-say-die attitude and an error from Chiefs keeper, Virgil Vries, to win 1-0.
Mthuthuzeli Qamba of Mbombela Stadium management said tickets are on sale at TicketPro (JET, CNA, Edgars and Spar supermarkets) at a cost of R40.
Prices are R40 for adults and R15 for children aged between three to 15 respectively.
“Park and ride will be operating from Government Complex and Showground. No tickets are sold at the stadium. We will also be offering free parking to motorists who will arrive before 13:00 in our early bird parking,” said Qamba.
The match is expected to be sold out.
