Football gods on Dondol Stars’ side as they are expected to win at least R400k in the Nedbank Cup after a giant-killing run

Football gods on Dondol Stars’ side as they are expected to win at least R400k in the Nedbank Cup after a giant-killing run

• Dondol Stars have pulled off upset victories against SuperSport United and AmaZulu in the Nedbank Cup.
• The Mamelodi-based club is guaranteed to pocket R400 000 for advancing to the quarter-finals of the competition.
• Dondol will find out who their next opponents are on Monday, 13 March.

Dondol Stars have defied the footballing odds this season.

The third-tier outfit, vying to climb out of the ABC Motsepe League (Gauteng Province), added another Premier Soccer League giant killing to their list.

After outwitting SuperSport United in the Nedbank Cup Round of 32 in a 2-1 win, the Mamelodi-based side went after AmaZulu in the last 16 on Wednesday.

Stars canceled out Hendrick Ekstein’s opening goal in the second half via Renaldo Fox and forced the Durban side all the way to a penalty shootout, winning 5-4 to advance to the quarter-finals.

“We are happy and excited. I hoped and prayed that our boys come to the party, and they came,” Dondol co-coach Khuliso Rashamuse said during his post-match interview with SuperSport TV.

“We pushed our players. We did not have anything to lose. They came to the party, and they danced and had fun.

“Penalties are lotteries. Anything can happen. The football gods were on our side. It was in the players’ hearts, they wanted it the most, and that’s where we won it.

“Besides it being history, it is a great achievement of the team. We want to remain humble. Focus on the league, and if we win, we go to the Gladafrica Championship (now Motsepe Foundation Championship). My life, Vini’s (co-coach Vincent Rammoni) life, and the players’ changes.”

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The Dondol Stars will aim to join Baroka FC, who defeated Kaizer Chiefs in the last eight rounds of 2011 and remain the only third-tier team to fall to flight opposition in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals.

The ABC Motsepe League side is now guaranteed to walk away with at least R400 000 for their efforts, which could go a long way for the club from the third tier.

And if that is not enough, it could increase to R1 million if they are to nab a semi-final shout.

Advancing to the final will see that purse increase to R2.5 million while winning the tournament will see Dondol claim R7 million.

Dondol, alongside Mamelodi Sundowns, have thus far advanced to Monday’s (13 March) quarter-final draw.

Meanwhile, Dondol Stars are top of the Gauteng stream of the ABC Motsepe League with a healthy nine-point lead over second-place Pele Pele FC.

If they are to win the Gauteng stream, they will then enter the overall playoff and have a chance of being crowned ABC Motsepe League champions.

The two teams in the final playoff match will be promoted to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

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