University of Pretoria will be without two key players when they take on Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup, and the reason for it has been revealed.
The Motsepe Foundation Championship side will be looking to pull an upset by knocking the 2021/22 Nedbank Cup champions out of the competition when the two teams meet on Friday.
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They will, however, have to do it without two of the squad's more prominent players, in Promise Mkhuma and Thabang Sibanyoni, as the pair, who are on loan from Sundowns, is not allowed to play against their parent club.
This was confirmed by Tuks head coach Tlisane Motaung at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
"It’s big, of course (the impact of missing these players), looking at how he (Sibanyoni) has been doing for us," Motaung said journalists.
"He has been very critical for us in terms of where we are now on the league. We would have loved to have him. But the reality is, we know about the loan agreement, and that agreement was there before we could even have him at our training session.
"So, we are not going to really focus on that deal and worry ourselves. I see it as a platform to give other players an opportunity really to demonstrate what they’re capable of.
"Yes, Siba would have played a great role for us, I would have loved to have him in this particular match.
"Unfortunately, due to, of course, contractual agreements, we’re not going to have him.
"Not only him, Promise Mkhuma will also not participate in this particular match.
"We respect that because it’s something that we knew when we brought him to the club."
Thank you ... Thank you ... Thank you
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Of course Sundowns have been consistent in exercising this policy over all their loaned out players.
SuperSport United had to take on their Tshwane rivals without goalkeeper Ricardo Goss and striker Etiosa Ighodaro, who are both on loan from Downs and subsequently prohibited from playing against their parent club.
The match between Tuks and Downs will be played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. Kick-off is set for 19:00.
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