Airlink Pumas head coach Jimmy Stonehouse says his troops are rearing and ready to go ahead of their SA Cup semi-final against the Boland Kavaliers on Friday.

Having come up short at the final hurdle in the inaugural edition in 2024, the Pumas have been on fire in the SA Cup this year. They are the only unbeaten side left in the competition having won all nine of their league phase games with a bonus point that saw them earn a full host of 45 points to finish top of the table.

“What a great opportunity this is after winning nine in a row, but now you’ve got to get the silverware, so if you don’t win the semi-final it doesn’t mean anything,” a proud yet realistic Stonehouse said.

It will be the first time the SA Cup includes a semi-final round as in last year’s edition the top two sides automatically qualified for the final. This is where the Pumas lost out to the Griquas in Kimberley. But the Pumas have proved a determined outfit in 2025, and Stonehouse says his troops are ready for the looming challenge on Friday.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for the players. We are ready, everybody is good to go.”

With his players and staff at the ready for Friday’s encounter, Stonehouse has issued a call to the public to make sure they come out in their numbers on Friday. “The most important thing is for the people of Mbombela to come and paint this stadium pink. We had a lot of support at home games this season and we implore the people of Mbombela to please come out and support us.”

The match will kick off at 19:00 on Friday, and should the Pumas win, they’ll secure a home final at Mbombela Stadium on May 24.

“We need you guys here and in pink. Just come and shout ‘Puma, Puma, Puma’, because without you guys we will struggle. We need you.”