Outspoken Tshakuma Tsha Madzivhandila head coach Lucky Nelukau has insisted his side will beat Marumo Gallants in their Nedbank Cup semi-final today.
The Limpopo-based side will be facing their third opponent from the DStv Premiership after eliminating Lamontville Golden Arrows in the last 16 on penalties before knocking out SuperSport United in extra-time in their quarter-final match.
Nelukau insisted he knows some of the Gallants team because he coached them before Abram Sello bought the status of TTM.
“I am aware of their playing style as you know most or 90% of Marumo Gallants players they are my former players,” Nelukau told media.
“I’m the one who signed them when Marumo was still TTM. The philosophy they are using is same as my philosophy.”
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Nelukau was part of the then TTM, which was later sold and renamed Marumo Gallants, who went on to win the cup under the name TTM however under new ownership.
At the beginning of 2021 Sello bought the club’s franchise from Lawrence Mulaudzi, and while he had every intention of renaming the club, he was only able to do it at the end of the season. Therefore when they lifted the Nedbank Cup, it was TTM’s name that was engraved on the trophy.
Nelakau, though, has also once again reiterated that his side are in fact the defending Nedbank champions.
“We are the defending champions, Tshakuma Tsha Madzivhandila are the defending champions you can see the cup is not written Marumo Gallants, TTM is the defending champions and we are going to win this cup it’s the final before the final,” he added.
“We are on our way to the final. I will remind you guys when the day comes ‘I told you that I will go to the final’ I’m going to beat this Marumo Gallants”
“When we play Golden Arrows it was the same I told you, I’m going to beat Golden Arrows, We came to SuperSport United, I told you we will beat SuperSport. Now it’s Marumo Gallants. I don’t have a problem with them, I’m not worried when I’m sleeping,” he added.
The 41-year-old also sent a warning message to the coach who won the 2019 Nedbank Cup with TS Galaxy by mentioning what has happened to the previous coaches that he played against in the competition.
“I’m not worried, he’s the one that is worried that’s why he came to watch our game, I never went to watch Marumo Gallant’s games because I’m not worried about them. I know those players, they are my former players”
“It was not my wish we played against Free State Stars, [Innocent] Mayoyo was fired, we played against SuperSport United, Kaitano Tembo was fired, we played against Arrows, [Lehlohonolo] Seema was fired, we played against Jomo Cosmos and they are in trouble, so if you come and face me, that’s what you will face ‘Dan Dance,’ you must be aware.”
The Limpopo derby is set to take place later this evening at Thohoyandou Stadium.
Dan Dance couldn’t resist 🕺 pic.twitter.com/Cf32hRqH4R
— iDiski Times (@iDiskiTimes) March 9, 2022
