There is just over a week to go before the Premier Soccer League resumes, however, this week it is all about cup football, with the Nedbank Cup semi-finals taking place.

On Saturday afternoon the proceedings at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto will get underway at 14:00 when Baroka FC host Bloemfontein Celtic in the first semi-final.

New Celtic coach, John Maduka, told OFM Sport due to the lack of football for close to five months, there are a couple of niggles in the team.

“There are a couple of them that have small injuries.

“Guys like Tshepo Rikhotso is one of them that it out. Remember that they haven’t been playing football for quite some time.

“When they came back to training they were not quite the same as before the suspension. It is one of those things that you’ve got to accept, especially when you are involved in this kind of sport.

“Ronald Pfumbidzai is also not around because he is out of the country in his native Zimbabwe. As you know it is very difficult for him to come to South Africa because of this Covid-19.

“That is another challenge for us, but we have been training the players for the first game which will be against Baroka in the Nedbank Cup.

“We are still training and preparing, so anything can happen between now and the semi-final. We are just hoping that it will all go when during training so that we can go there with an almost full-strength squad.”

The double-header will continue at 19:00 when the defending PSL champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, take on Wits.

Downs are two-time Nedbank Cup winners, while the Clever Boys have won it once. Celtic and Baroka are both vying for a first title.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport