Meshack Motloung

Meshack Motloung

Mpumalanga Black Aces have thrown down the gauntlet and vowed to donder Absa Premiership big brothers Free State Stars, who they meet in the semifinals of the lucrative Nedbank Cup at a venue still to be decided.

Gutsy Amazayoni communications manager Thabo Morwape said this yesterday after the Coal City giants were drawn against Ea Lla Koto, with AmaZulu facing Mamelodi Sundowns in the other semifinal.

"It has been our wish to play Stars. We're in a mean mood and we're going to donder them. We're happy because our wish has been granted. We're already in the final," said an over-confident Morwape.

"Although they have quality players, we're going to match them pound for pound. If the cup committee decides to take the game to Witbank, they're going to be pulverised," he said.

Morwape added that Aces were the only team in the competition that had not conceded a goal and were eager to maintain that standard up to the final.

Stars' team manager Rantsi Mokoena was cool. He said it was not going to be easy for them, but they were determined to take part in the final.

"If they are going to donder us, we're going to bliksem them. We're aware that they are underdogs and have a point to prove. But we have players who are capable of seeing us through.

"We have seen Aces in action, we also have their video tapes, so we're going to study them and we'll be in the final," said the ambitious Mokoena.

Sundowns' spokesman Mahlatse Mphahlele was cautious about their game against Usuthu.

"They're a good team with good players and they have been doing well in the cup. But obviously we hope to go through," he said.

AmaZulu spokesman Philani Mabaso said: "We want the green cup because AmaZulu's colours are also green. The players have shown character and the players are performing well.

"We're confident of going through to the final."

The cup committee said they will decide on the venues for the semifinals tomorrow.