Mpheni Defenders owner and coach Sydwell Phuravhathu.
By: Refilwe Sebola
Sydwell Phuravhathu, the owner and coach of Mpheni Defenders, exudes confidence as his team gears up for their pivotal match in the Nedbank Cup.
This weekend, they’ll take on National First Division (NFD) side Hungry Lion in the last 32 of the Nedbank Cup at Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday.
Phuravhathu emphasizes the significance of this match and is unwavering in his team’s determination to advance to the next round. “We are fully aware of what’s at stake, and we are prepared to put everything on the line to win this game. The prize money would be a tremendous boost for us,” he declared.
While they may be seen as underdogs, he firmly believes that his team is ready to face their more experienced opponents head-on. “Yes, we are the underdogs, but we’re going to fight fiercely. If we score, we absolutely have a shot at winning and progressing to the next stage,” he asserted.
If Mpheni Defenders triumph over Hungry Lion, they will secure R200,000 for qualifying for the last 16, having already pocketed R100,000 for reaching the last 32.
The overall tournament champion will walk away with a remarkable R7 million, while the runner-up will receive R2.5 million. Additionally, teams finishing in third and fourth place will each be awarded R1 million, and those in fifth, sixth, and seventh will earn R400,000.
Last time Mpheni reached the last 32, they confidently advanced to the last 16, when they were up against a rival from the ABC Motsepe league. The match is set to kick off at 15:00, and the team is ready to seize this opportunity.