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MEN TO WATCH: Chiefs playmaker Siphiwe Tshabalala and Leopards striker Rodney Ramagalela

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BLACK Leopards are a fairly easy draw for giants Kaizer Chiefs on paper.

In the reality of the Nedbank Cup's last 16, however, Leopards are like their namesakes in the bushveld: creatures to be feared.

To take the analogy even further, Leopards seem to have changed their spots in time to give the inconsistent Amakhosi a tough time tomorrow night.

Chiefs have breezed past Leopards at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, the venue for the weekend's cup clash - but that was in an Absa Premiership encounter in October when Amakhosi won 2-0.

Vladislav Heric is now in charge of Lidoda Duvha and - for the first time this season - Leopards moved outside the relegation play-off zone with a 2-1 win over Santos on Wednesday night.

At the other end of the Premier League table, Chiefs fluffed their chance to close the gap on leaders Mamelodi Sundowns when they were held to a goalless draw by Golden Arrows on the same night.

Amakhosi coach Vladimir Vermezovic is struggling to win crucial games while Heric and Leopards have recently had a good run, a sequence that has been highlighted by a good run in the African Confederation Cup.

The Limpopo team got past the tournament's preliminary round and are now in the first round.

They beat Saint Eloi Lupopo from Democratic Republic of Congo 4-2 in the first leg at the Giyani Stadium last Saturday, with the return leg set for next weekend.

Chiefs will be going up against a team whose confidence will be high.

Another interesting clash in the Nedbank Cup last 16 will be the KwaZulu-Natal derby between Golden Arrows and Maritzburg United at the Princess Magogo Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

Arrows are 12th on the log and Maritzburg 13th. Both teams have played 22 matches, are each on 24 points, with Arrows marginally ahead because of goal difference. They are equally matched, also, by their poor league standings.

On Sunday, Jomo Cosmos, who won only their second league match of the season on Wednesday night, host Platinum Stars at Sinaba Stadium.

Cosmos could be finding form in time to ready themselves for the last few weeks of the relegation zone, but Stars have had a better record since suspending coach Owen da Gama.

Stars are unbeaten in their last four league matches and thumped amateur side Dolphins 5-1 in the Nedbank Cup's round of 32.

SuperSport United travel to the GWK Stadium in Kimberley, where Sundowns registered a record 24-0 win over Powerlines FC, to take on United FC, but they are unlikely to achieve the same feat.

The former PSL champions last won a league match on February 18 against Golden Arrows, and that is also the last time SuperSport scored a goal in the league.

Penalties got them through the last 32 when they beat first division side Batau FC.

Comments

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Mon May 20 07:20:36 SAST 2013 ::

Mar 30, 2012

Bizzabo

I see an upset by Ramagalela!

Up the Bucs!
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Mar 30, 2012

Nzwere

This one should be an easy game for Leopards, I don't see Chiefs winning this one. this is my objective opinion. Zebras are good but they have not been their ussual self lately and at the other end, Leopards have been doing well for themselves, so their confidence has sky rocketed in the past few weeks.

uuuuuup the Bucs, up the Champs, Tse Ntsho ka nkane.
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Mar 30, 2012

Papage

I am worried about the colour Purple, it seems it has given Leaopart players a luck.
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Mar 30, 2012

Mangoz

Leopards moved outside the relegation play-off zone with a 2-1 win over Santos on Wednesday night.

...but that was in an Absa Premiership encounter in October when Amakhosi won 2-0.
=================================================================
LEOPARDS = CATS = PU$$IES

This is a Nedbank cup, we (khosi) will repeat the execution that occured in October (league).

THREE WORDS shall still remain: RISE.........KHOSI.........KHOSI
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Mar 30, 2012

Zulu4ever

@Bizzabo
You sound upset already by "Manqele"
Down the Bugs

Khosi For Life
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Mar 30, 2012

nwanawahaya197

leopard 1-chiefs-0
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Mar 30, 2012

Lopoloplo

Final Score Chiefs 4 Leopard 3 Penalty shootout.
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Mar 30, 2012

Zulu4ever

We need Nale on the first 11 otherwise.........Konyiwa
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Mar 30, 2012

Ruudboy

Couldnt have said it betta with nale on the pitch it is a definite win 4 us
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Mar 30, 2012

maezizsto68

Leopards 2 Chips 1.

It is going to be a win for Leopards.Zebra Stripes FC has a tendency of losing to weaker teams when it comes to the Nedbank cup.
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