Daniel Akpeyi is likely to return to the line-up and Menzi Masuku could be given his first start as Chippa United prepare for a first-ever cup semifinal appearance when they take on league champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 on Sunday.

Two successive victories at the start of the new campaign have coach Dan Malesela’s side starkly in the spotlight with compliments being heaped on them in the wake of victory over Free State Stars in their opening clash of the new league season‚ and then the away win over Platinum Stars in the quarterfinals of the MTN8.

Their playing style focusing only on ball retention‚ repeated circulation and then suddenly switching onto the attack has caught the eye and turned Chippa from a side of relegation scrappers into a team that tactical purists are now purring over.

Akpeyi missed the opening two matches because of his participation with Nigeria at the Rio Olympic Games and then a decision to give him some holiday time at home before he returned to South Africa.

But with back-up goalkeeper Zama Dlamini looking far from convincing between the sticks‚ coach Malesela is expected to have no hesitation in putting the 30-year-old Nigerian to work.

Masuku was also at the Rio Games and therefore missed the first league match‚ but he did come on four days later as a substitute against Platinum Stars.

“The one thing we are worried about is Diamond Thopola coming back from the national team without playing any minutes‚” said the club’s chief operations officer Lukanyo Mzinzi on Wednesday.

“But there is a sense that we have the best squad we have ever assembled with a lot of good competition for places. There are no injury concerns and everyone is raring to go.”

Chippa are playing in the MTN8 for the first time and reaching the semifinal ended a sequence of nine successive cup games without a win for the Port Elizabeth-based club. - TMG Digital