Young Stars ready to take on the road to glory

The ABC Motsepe League side, Phiva Young Stars will attempt to emulate Mpumalanga Black Aces when they host the National First Division log leaders, Jomo Cosmos in the Nedbank Cup scheduled for this Saturday at the newly renovated KaMhlushwa Stadium.

Despite losing 1-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns in the final of the Nedbank Cup in 2008, Aces have actually lifted this trophy back in 1993 when it was still known as the Bob Save Super Bowl Cup.

On Saturday, another local team, Phiva Stars will attempt to achieve what many soccer pundits have labeled as an impossible dream given the current form and experience of Jomo Cosmos, especially in cup competitions.

Even so, the home team said they would not be intimidated and may not command great respect now but vowed that after this fixture everyone would know who they are.

“For us, reaching the Nedbank Cup Last 32 has revitalised the team, bringing us together as a squad and the guys are fired up for the competition.

“We want a PSL team at the KaMhlushwa Stadium, that would be a best possible outcome for us and we then want to beat them to make the country sit up and take notice of the talent we have at this club and in this province.

“Everything is in place. The boys are both mentally and physically ready for this clash. We have done our homework well,” said Stars’ CEO Nicholas Siboza.

He also mentioned that tickets for this clash are also available at Computicket and other outlets mentioned last week.
Kick off is 15:00.

Even though the Nkomazi-based soccer giants will make their first ever appearance in this competition, they are well on track to rewrite the history books.

The tournament started in 1971 and was known as the Life Challenge Cup until 1975.

In 1976 and 1977, the tournament was known as the Benson and Hedges Trophy. From 1978 until 1987 the it was known as the Mainstay Cup.
In 1988 the sponsorship was taken over by First National Bank, and was renamed the Bob Save Super Bowl. This name remained until 2001.
The competition was then sponsored by Absa between 2003 and 2007, and known as the Absa Cup.

Nedbank took over the sponsorship in 2008, and renamed the tournament the Nedbank Cup.

The current format sees the 16 Premier Soccer League clubs, eight National First Division teams, as well as eight teams from the amateur ranks enter the main draw of 32 teams.

The PSL teams enter the main draw automatically, while the NFD clubs need to play a single qualifier against other NFD clubs.

The amateur teams go through a series of qualifiers to enter the main draw.

From the round of 32 onwards, teams are not seeded, and the first sides drawn receive home-ground advantage.

The winners receive prize money of R6 million, and qualifies for the next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.