University of Pretoria coach Tlisane Motaung says last-minute venue change for their Nedbank Cup quarterfinal tie against Mamelodi Sundowns will feel like an away game.
AmaTuks will be hosting Sundowns at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, in Atteridgeville on Friday night. The game will kick off at 7pm.
Venue changed due to clash with other events
Initially, the Tshwane derby was supposed to be played at the AmaTuks Stadium in Hatfield. However the Soccer Premier League (PSL) opted to move the game to Lucas Moripe. This was due to a clash with other events that will be taking place at the venue.
Motaung said that the change of venue will somewhat have an impact on how the game pans out. He was speaking to the media during the Nedbank Cup press conference on Wednesday.
“From the technical side of things, we would have loved to have played at our stadium,” Motaung said.
Hostility concerns at new venue
“The hostility at Lucas Moripe Stadium will be bigger as opposed to our stadium, where we were going to control it a little bit better.
“Obviously, from a logistics point of view, a decision had to be taken and one respects it. From a technical side, it’s an away game but from a logistics side of things it’s a home game.”
Motaung also confirmed that two of his key attacking players Thabang Sibanyoni and Promise Mkuma will not be available for selection. They are not eligible to play against their parent club since they are both on loan from Sundowns.
“He has been very critical for us looking at where we are now in the league, we would have loved to have him.
Missing two players not a big worry
“But the reality is that we know about the loan agreement. And it was there before we could even have him at a training session.
“We’re not going to focus on that and worry ourselves. Because I see it as a platform to give other players an opportunity to really demonstrate what they are capable of.
“He would have played a great role for us, and we would have loved to have him for this particular match. But due to a contractual agreement, we won’t have him.
“Promise Mkhuma won’t be available for this match as well. And we respect that because it’s something that we knew when we brought them to the club.”
