Dondol Stars have a motivational date with destiny as Pirates loom large

Dondol Stars captain Bafana Makhanya said the motivation to beat Orlando Pirates, at any level, will come naturally to them for Saturday's Nedbank Cup quarter-final clash in Polokwane.

Dondol Stars is the only lower league team remaining in the Nedbank Cup and they had to tread a hard path to the last eight.

They had to beat SuperSport United and AmaZulu to get this far and in Pirates, they meet a side that carries significant scars of lower-league humblings.

Makhanya understood that Pirates, currently the second-oldest DStv Premiership team behind AmaZulu, aren't the makeweights that SuperSport and Usuthu tend to be.

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However, Makhanya said there was a buzz in their camp that understood the magnitude of the occasion and what it means to play against the Buccaneers.

"Everyone wants to play and beat Pirates. You don't need motivation from coaches," Makhanya said.

"Playing against Pirates is motivation itself because it's one of the biggest teams in the country. The motivation is there, and everyone wants to play.

"We're fighting to be in the starting line-up and at training, no one is injured, and everyone is fit."

Rammoni cut a far less excitable figure than his captain, probably with the understanding that Pirates, despite their inconsistencies this season, pack a serious punch.

Both sides needed an extra time escape route in their round of 16 matches, with Pirates needing a late Thembinkosi Lorch goal to save their blushes against Venda Football Academy.

Dondol were required to take their home game to the FNB Stadium and needed penalties to beat a strong but badly coached AmaZulu side that was managed by Romain Folz, who has