×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

barker the glue for tuks

LOCKED ON: Ajax Cape Town's Salie Tawfeeq fights for the ball with Pretoria University's Thokozani Sekotlong in their Nedbank Cup semifinal match at Milpark Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday. AmaTuks beat Ajax 2-1 in extra time. 27/04/09. Pic. Antonio Muchave. © Sowetan.
LOCKED ON: Ajax Cape Town's Salie Tawfeeq fights for the ball with Pretoria University's Thokozani Sekotlong in their Nedbank Cup semifinal match at Milpark Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday. AmaTuks beat Ajax 2-1 in extra time. 27/04/09. Pic. Antonio Muchave. © Sowetan.

Linda Moreotsene

Linda Moreotsene

National First Division side University of Pretoria have benefitted from a desire to succeed and total confidence in coach Steve Barker, captain Obert Moyo said.

Tukkies beat Ajax Cape Town 2-1 in a Nedbank Cup semifinal at Milpark Stadium on Sunday, a match which dragged to extra time with no score after 90 minutes.

Tukkies - who carried themselves like they were the PSL side - should have wrapped up the game in the first half, as Ajax battled to cope with their blistering pace.

Barker's team will meet Moroka Swallows, who defeated Black Leopards 2-1 at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday in the other semifinal. The final will be played on May 23 at a venue still to be announced.

Moyo said the whole team was privileged to reach this stage, against all odds.

"The key today [on Sunday] was to play to our strengths and while we lost concentration and conceded the equaliser, we still kept our composure," said the central defender, who had kept Ajax danger man Mabhuti Khenyeza quiet.

Tuks players such as man of the match and goal scorer Mthokozisi Yende, Andile Jali and Thabo Moleko toyed with Ajax, with Jali showing vision and composure.

Barker said it would not be a problem getting his players focused on their all-important league match against Winners Park on Saturday.

"We realise that getting promotion is much bigger for us, although getting them both will obviously be even better. Why not win the Cup and then get promotion?" he said.

Ajax coach Craig Rosslee said: "We were just too tired - we have been travelling up and down and that seems to have affected us badly today. We did have our chances, especially on set-pieces and we could have had them on the counter[attack], but it did not happen."

Yende and Manti Moholo scored for Tukkies while Nhlanhla Kubeka scored for Ajax.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.