Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso will guide his side against Mpheni Home Defenders in the Nedbank Cupo last-16. Hollywoodbets Sports Blog gives you all the details for this encounter.
How to watch
The match will take place at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville. Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 and the tie will be broadcast live on DStv channel 202. It will also be available on digital platform DStv Stream.
Players to watch
The likelihood that Cardoso is going to ring chances is very high, given the profile of the opposition they are playing against. Players like Jody February and perhaps Reyaad Pieterse may be given an opportunity in goals while younster Malibongwe Khoza may be restored in the backline.
Downs have also got players like Neo Maema, Terrence Mashego and Matias Esquivel, who have not seen much action this season. Even though this is a match tailored for the fringe players, Cardoso might lean on the experience of striker Peter Shalulile and on form attacker Lucas Ribeiro.
What was said
Vhutshilo Phuravhathu – Mpheni head coach
“For us, this is the most important game in our history to find ourselves playing against the African giants – it’s very important for the boys, they don’t need any motivation.
“Already they are motivated that they are playing against Mamelodi Sundowns, they are also motivated by the fact that it’s the only game on Sunday and that we [could be] the only team from the lower leagues to beat Sundowns in their history.
“I’m a coach that believes any team is beatable on any day, and even Mamelodi Sundowns can be beaten on any day, and there are teams that respect Sundowns more and that’s the reason they are not able to compete with them.
“But if you go there and compete, chances of you being able to come out with a good result is higher than not coming out to compete.”
Miguel Cardoso – Sundowns head coach
“We have big respect for any opponent and I don’t believe that these kinds of results will happen again in the next few years.
“This happens once in a lifetime and we will not be here to see it again. What I believe is that we have to fight to get a good result and we need to understand the moment.
“The moment is for us to provide an opportunity for players who have not been playing a lot and to provide rest for those who are tired and need to recover.
“We know the challenge for such games and we need to perform at the highest level in order to get results. We have to build a team that is as strong as possible and we have to analyze the players who can cope with the situation.”
Lucas Moripe Stadium
Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium having a capacity of 28,900 and is located in Atteridgeville, a suburb of Pretoria, South Africa. It is currently the part-time home stadium of PSL Sundowns who also use the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
The stadium was named after former local soccer player Lucas Moripe. Until 2010 the stadium was known as Super Stadium. The German national football team used it as a training venue during the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Place your bet
Even though stranger things have happened in football, it is unlikely that Sundowns are unlikely to get booted out by a side that is two divisions below them. Mpheni too are aware that Downs are more superior than them.
Sundowns are by far the best bet for this tie, but if you are looking for value for money, Mpheni is the team to back. To place a bet on this and other games taking place this weekend, head over to Hollywoodbets.net.
Ready for our #NedbankCup last 16 action 💪#Sundowns #RabatsenaGape pic.twitter.com/2Jw98Xg8sL
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) February 14, 2025
