Stellenbosch are determined to beat Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final to be played on Wednesday.
The last edition's finalists will be hosting Stellies at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday, aware that a win will put them in a prime position to advance. However, the Carling Cup champions are coming into the game full of confidence.
Fresh from an aggregate 8-0 win over Nsingizini Hotspurs in the first preliminary round of the Caf Confederation Cup, Stellenbosch are ready to show they are not pushovers.
Stellies want a positive result against Sundowns
Defender Thabo Molisane believes after back-to-back wins against Nsingizini Hotspurs, Stellies can be hopeful of delivering against Masandawana.
“We've been here [in Durban] for five days now, starting the Caf [Confederation Cup] game with a very good result, a [confidence] boosting result as well going into the Sundowns game. We have tried by all means to sharpen up to make sure we get a favourable result,” he said in a presser.
“Playing Sundowns is never easy but I believe that we are a very competitive team. We are going to make sure that we try to stamp our authority as well, all we want is to go to Pretoria and win this first leg.”
The MTN semi-final game is anyone's
The 20-year-old right-back Kyle Jurgens is convinced the Steve Barker-led team will get a positive outfit, and that Masandawana will not find it easy.
“Personally, I'd take any game because I believe all the teams in the PSL are good, you don't know what to expect on the day, so going into this week's semifinal against Sundowns, it's 50/50,” he stated.
“Every team is as competitive as the other. One thing about us is we are always focused on our team.”
Jurgens is expected to make the right-back position his own after the exit of former club's captain Deano van Rooyen to Orlando Pirates.