Pieterse: We want to defend our title

Defending the Nedbank Cup is Matsatsantsa a Pitori’s only recourse to rescue their season, but first, they need to forge a way past Dan “Dance” Malesela’s rejuvenated Chippa United.

No longer than four days after the Chilli Boys walloped SuperSport 3-0 in an Absa Premiership encounter courtesy of a Rulani Manzini second half hat-trick at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, the sides lock horns again this afternoon in the Nedbank Cup semifinal to be played at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane.

The 3-0 scoreline may however be very deceiving, considering that Stuart Baxter rested a majority of his front-liners, presumably to have them fresh for this game. However, Pieterse insists that whoever is selected will do what is expected of them.

“Whoever the coach decides to put on the field is going to go out and give his utmost best because he knows that he has a chance to play next week. We are a team and no team has ‘I’ … we fight win together and lose as a team,” he told the Saturday Citizen.

“We are obviously playing to defend our title and to go to the final and compete with whoever that will be.”

Chippa, who will be playing only their second cup semifinal in top-flight football after reaching the MTN8 semis earlier this season, giving Mamelodi Sundowns a run for their money, are distracted by the prospects of being relegated to the National First Division.

Regardless of that, they could pull a rabbit out of the hat by landing the knockout blow to the capital city-based side and ruin what would be a pleasant send off for Baxter, whose days are numbered at the club as he will begin his stint as Bafana Bafana head coach at the end of the season.