Baroka eyes glory in Nedbank Cup

Baroka Football Club’s confidence received a sturdy boost when they beat Steenberg United Football Club 2-0 in their last 16 match of the Nedbank Cup at Peter Mokaba Stadium last Saturday.
Six matches after the dramatic sacking of their longstanding head coach, Kgoloko Thobejane the team seems unaffected and more adamant than ever that they can reach the final stages of the tournament, an accomplishment they have been craving since their first season.
In 2011, while campaigning in the National First Division (NFD) they reached the semi-finals of the competition but were knocked out by their nemesis, Black Leopards Football Club and it was only in 2016 that they reached the semi-finals again.
Chief Executive Officer, Morgan Mammilla said their plan this season was to do well in the remaining stages of the competition and eventually reach the final. “In 2016 we went all the way to the semi-finals stage but Super Sport United denied us the final stage of the competition. Our experience in this competition will come in handy in the remaining matches of the competition. We are waiting for the quarterfinal draw. We have a good technical team and hungry players and I think they will help us to achieve this goal,” Mammilla said.
He applauded assistant coach, MacDonald Makhubedu who stepped in to keep the team in form after Thobejane’s departure. Makhubedu joined Baroka from ABC Motsepe League outfit Acornbush United in July last year. “He is doing well and we are impressed. Out of six matches he has won three and drawn three. He is challenging us because since Thobejane left we have been receiving calls from local and international coaches who are interested in the head coach position. We will give him a chance, I mean he has never lost a match and we wish him all the best,” Mammilla added.

Story and photos: Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert.observer@gmail.com