Defending champions Orlando Pirates are seemingly riding their luck again in the Nedbank Cup when it comes to the draw but defender Tapelo Xoki has dismissed those suggestions.
Pirates drew lower league opposition in all the rounds last season up until the semi-finals, as they got past All Stars, Venda Football Academy (both from the Motsepe Foundation Championship) and ABC Motsepe League outfit Dondol Stars (although they needed penalties to progress).
The Buccaneers' tournament last season only got more competitive, on paper, in the semi-finals after meeting rivals Kaizer Chiefs and beat them 2-1 in extra-time and edged Sekhukhune United by the same scoreline in regulation time in the final.
READ | Pirates star: We learned from Dondol Stars
The Soweto giants started the defence of their title over the weekend against fourth-tier outfit Crystal Lake and after crushing them 6-0, they have been drawn against another lower league side Hungry Lions (MFC), in the round of 16.
There are suggestions that the Sea Robbers are finding luck in the draw but Xoki was quick to point out that there's no such a thing, as lower league sides have shown that they are capable of upsets after Milford knocked out Chiefs last Sunday.
"I think the results of the tournament have shown in the past that there's no such (a thing as a lucky draw), (on Sunday) we saw a lower division side took out a big team (Chiefs)," Xoki said to journalists on the sidelines of the Nedbank Cup last 16 draw.
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"So for us to say we're lucky? It can't be the case because these teams have proven themselves, we have to give them the respect they deserve, they are in the tournament as everyone is and they are in it to win it. There's no lucky draw, we only wanted a home fixture, which we got. But in terms of teams, we don't think because we got a lower division side it's a lucky draw for us, we're gonna get through, it's not the case," he said.
The Buccaneers will resume their DStv Premiership season when they visit Polokwane City on Saturday afternoon.
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