Real Kings during the Nedbank Cup, Last 16 match between Mbombela United and Real Kings at Kanyamazane Stadium on February 22, 2020 in Nelspruit, South Africa. (Photo by Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images)
Real Kings have nothing to lose and are now looking at emulating TS Galaxy who became the first team from the GladAfrica Championship to win the Nedbank Cup. Kings are one of the two sides from the lower divisions still left in Ke Yona where they were drawn against Bidvest Wits for the quarter-finals.
“It’s not a surprise that we are at this stage of the competition because we have been training very hard. Being in the last eight means a lot to the team. It means another opportunity to rub shoulders with big teams. We are a big team in KZN but now we want to spread and be known nationally,” said Hlongwane.
He said now that the first part of their Nedbank Cup objectives had been achieved, they were dreaming big and hoping to make their own history.
“This is a cup of dreams and every dream is possible. When we started the season, we had our own ambitions and one of them was making the last eight. Now that we have done that, we can maybe make a run for it from here because anything is possible now.
“We are now the sole representatives of KwaZulu-Natal and you know this is a proud province with a proud heritage and we associate with that achievement and now we want to add another feather in its cap.
Kings are currently eighth in the Championship standings but are still in with a real chance of making the promotion places by the end of the season. Hlongwane said they were also throwing everything into trying to win promotion.
“From now on for us, every game is a cup final,” he said. “We have nine games to play starting with Free State Stars this weekend… Every game must bring three points, that’s the gold dust for us. We can’t slip up now.”
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