Cape Town All Stars go head to head against Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup Last 32 fixture

“We are facing a coach who is ranked among the top 10 in the world,"says Brandon Trutter

CT All Stars coach, Brandon Truter|Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images

Cape Town All Stars head coach Brandon Truter faced the media on Tuesday (February,6) at the Sun Square hotel in the City Bowl to preview their massive fixture against Mamelodi Sundowns. 

All Stars who are no strangers to facing top-flight oppositions such as Kaizer Chiefs and Bidvest Wits have a heavy cloud hanging over their heads ahead of their fixture against the African champions on Friday (February 9). Their clash comes in at a time when the club's owner Lunga Ntwana has reportedly agreed to the sale of his club’s National First Division status to Swallows FC‚ who have seen themselves falling to the ABC Motsepe league.

Trutter expressed his views on their upcoming fixture and is aware that it will be a huge game that will fill the stadium with the Sundowns fans as seen recently when they took on Cape Town City. He sang Pitso Mosimane's praises, a coach that is ranked top 10 in the world and has led Sundowns to the CAF and Absa Premiership winning status. 

"You saw the crowd last week against CT City. It doesn't really matter where Sundowns plays. 

"We are facing the African champs, the PSL champs, a coach who is ranked top 10 in the world. We are certainly the underdogs," he said. 

The All Stars head coach said the Nedbank Cup is a great platform for the players to showcase their talents as well test the coach's ability when facing teams like Mamelodi Sundowns. 

"I think its a great platform; the Nedbank Cup gives my players that opportunity to showcase their talents as well and at the same time also test the coaching staff's ability as well especially facing up against a coach like Pitso. 

"It will be a massive confidence boost if we were to beat them but at the same time we are blowing hot and cold- being inconsistent especially with the scoring and the finishing."

Trutter believes in instilling a winning mentality in his players, to always win a game no matter who their opposition is and he hopes the players will come out heroes after their fixture against the champions.

"But we are always set out to win a game whether its against Sundowns, or one of the lower league teams at training matches. I instill a winning mentality on my players all the time. 

"We've got nothing to lose, we can only come out as heroes in this game," he told the media.

Igugu lekapa are unbeaten in seven matches in the NFD‚ while their inability to convert their chances and finish continues to be a problem for them.

"There are good and bad draws and sometimes-  a point is what you aim for if you are. 

"We are unbeaten but we have also had some bad results in terms of draws where we should've won the game. 

"Sundowns has players like Jeremy Brockie, Khama Billiat and Themba Zwane on the bench, but we are on track still chasing the playoffs. I tell my players that the next opportunity is your next opportunity. 

"We will see how that goes but I'm leaning towards a strong side. 

Trutter added that The Brazilians will have an advantage of having played at Athlone stadium whereas Parow Park has been their home. He added that although he has not seen the pitch yet, he knows that it will be bigger and more spacious to suit Pitso's side. 

"Sundowns have an advantage, having played there again (Athlone). To be honest, I haven't seen the pitch as yet. It will be bigger and there will be more space; it should suit them at the end of the day. 

"Parow is nice and compact, where we can plan accordingly so it will be something different but it will be  great as well.

"I wasn't around when the team last played there but I am looking forward to Athlone stadium for the people of Cape Town," the All Stars mentor said. 

Cape Town All Stars will meet Mamelodi Sundowns on the 9th of February at Athlone stadium. Kick off is set for 8PM.