Fredericks believes Stellenbosch can be considered trophy favourites as Nedbank Cup reaches quarter-final stage

JOHANNESBURG - The big guns have been kept apart in the quarter-final draw of the Nedbank Cup.

Pretoria will be divided as second division University of Pretoria take on Mamelodi Sundowns, AmaZulu clashes with defending champions Orlando Pirates, TS Galaxy will be at home to Chippa United while Stellenbosch face off with SuperSport United.

The men from the Cape will look to make it back-to-back Cup wins having clinched the Carling Knockout trophy following a penalty shootout win over Galaxy.

Speaking to Eyewitness News, former Bafana Bafana midfielder, Stanton Fredericks believes the bookies money will be on Stellenbosch to lift the Nedbank Cup.

“That’s what happens with success, it becomes addictive,” he said about Stellenbosch winning their first-ever piece of silverware.

“Stellenbosch are a side who are doing well in the cups. Not only with the Black Label under their belt but you also see them in the top 4 of the DSTV Premiership. What they are doing is admirable. You see the continuity and the conveyor belt of the young stars coming through. They are not distracted by the other competitions, so that gives them an opportunity to do well. They also have the confidence of already having won a Cup this season”.

Pirates are the reigning Nedbank Cup champions and are unlikely to relinquish this trophy without a fight.

Jose Riveiro has turned the Sea Robbers into Cup specialists, having won the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup in the 2022/23 season and then successfully defending the Top 8 trophy during this ongoing campaign.

“Even though he has done extremely well in the Cup, for Jose Riveiro, him coming to Orlando Pirates, has elevated the team holistically,” Fredericks said of the Spainard’s influence on the Buccaneers.

“I do know that after winning the Cup last year and coming second in the League, they want to do one better. They want to challenge Sundowns in every competition. Jose Riveiro will welcome another Cup, but his focus is definitely on getting into the CAF Champions League and then ultimately fighting for that throne that Sundowns are holding with ease”.

As the season heads towards the business end, the Brazilians continue to fight on multiple fronts, leading some to question if they will prioritise other competitions above the Nedbank Cup.

Rulani Mokwena’s side are 13 points clear at the top of the Premiership standings, as they target a seventh consecutive League title, while they’ve reached the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League where they will face Young Africans over two legs.

“I do not for one second think Sundowns will be happy if they do not win the Cup,” the player knowns as "Stiga" shared as he revealed he thinks the team will want to make up for falling short the season before.

“Last year they exited at the semifinal stage and while Rulani Mokwena was understanding, he was not happy. That is Mamelodi Sundowns’ motto as a team, anything that is on offer, they will try their best to win it. That is evidence that they do not take any game for granted.”  

While the usual suspects are once again in the running to win silverware, Kaizer Chiefs remain a team that miss out when it comes to contending for trophies.

The Glamour Boys were knocked out on penalties in the Round of 32 by Milford FC. The defeat to lower-league opposition means they’ve now exited the competition at this stage in three of the last four seasons.

And more worryingly, their long trophy drought continues, having last lifted silverware in 2015.

“Not getting a Cup another year is not easy,” Fredericks said of his former club’s troubles.

“I’m sure management will sit down and assess what is the way forward. It is not a nice situation. I think players and coaches are not happy. I can only begin to understand the aura around the village because I was part of a team that winning was in the DNA,” said Fredericks about a team he represented on 7 occasions, scoring 22 goals.

“I don’t want to speak about the past but it’s what the club deserves. The club deserves to win and they deserve trophies but in football, nothing comes easy. You have to work for it. So, once again its back to the drawing board. I think they are going to have to re-shift their focus for the remaining games in the DSTV Premiership and I’m sure possibly a continental competition qualification is needed.So they would need to finish in the top 4, top 3 and I think that will be the goal for the rest of the season and they will have to work hard for it”.