Royal AM coach John Maduka says he doesn’t care who his side will be paired with in the Nedbank Cup quarter-final draw later today, after it was suggested to him that he would be happy to face Dondol Stars.
Stars are the only amateur side left in the Ke Yona Cup quarter-finals after overcoming AmaZulu on penalties this past weekend at FNB Stadium.
It was the Mamelodi side’s second DStv Premiership scalp after dumping SuperSport United in the first round.
Meanwhile, Royal AM themselves are through to the quarter-finals after beating provincial rivals, Golden Arrows 3-1 in extra-time at Princess Magogo Stadium on Saturday.
Other teams who are through are the big three – Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Stellenbosch FC and Chippa United and Sekhukhune United.
“All the teams that have qualified now, they are all good teams,” said Maduka.
“They are there because they are good and deserve to be there. So it doesn’t matter who you are playing against, whoever we are drawn with, we know that it is going to be a very difficult game.
“We can’t choose anyone else, we have to prepare for that particular team and compete against them and try by all means to go to the semi finals.”
Royal AM is the only KZN club left in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals and last season went as far as reaching the semi-final, only to lose to all conquering Sundowns, who went on to win the competition.
Shauwn Mkhize’s club are travelling to Pretoria to face Sundowns in the DStv Premiership clash at Loftus Stadium on Tuesday (19:30), and Maduka felt it s right time that his side are facing the league leaders, who crushed Al Ahly 5-2 in the CAF Champions League group stages on Saturday, because they are slowly gaining their confidence up under him.
Veteran defender Happy Jele could finally feature in that game against Downs after he again did not play as Royal AM beat Arrows on Saturday, as he is still working on his full match fitness.
