Richards Bay coach Brandon Truter is eager to carry the hopes of KwaZulu-Natal in the Carling Knockout quarter-final as they host struggling Cape Town City at King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Truter’s side is the sole survivor from KZN after Royal AM, Golden Arrows, and AmaZulu were eliminated in the first round.

Last season, Bay was the only team from the province to reach the semi-finals, defeating cup kings Orlando Pirates on penalties in the quarter-finals. They eventually lost to eventual champions Stellenbosch FC in the semi-finals.

“The cup competition is unlike the league, which is a marathon,” said Truter, who was seen urging his players to give their all in this game before the training on Thursday. 

“We are now in the quarter-finals and you play three games and you are in the final. So, it’s our opportunity to win a cup, the opportunity to get something on our CV and history, and the country to sit up and take notice. 

“Right now, we are the only KZN team that is left and I hope the province is behind us because we are going to represent them well. But the cup competition is different, is game-by-game and very good as well.  

“Additionally, the cup competition refreshes everything – the mentality and the body and it heals injuries. So, we will see and everybody is ready except for Yanela Mbuthuma, who is suspended.”  

This will be the first cup meeting between Bay and City, who have faced each other four times in the league. City holds the advantage, winning three of those matches, including two last season.

However, City is currently low on morale after a 3-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday.

“But Cape Town City is a good team,” argued Truter, whose side has struggled to score goals this season.

“They faced Sundowns in their own backyard. If you looked at their line-up, they rested few players and they had one eye of this competition and they are also in it to win it. 

“They have been to KZN and they haven’t picked up points and we are mindful about that. If they are vulnerable at the back, it all present up the opportunities to take advantage but also the speed of the opposition and their attack will test us. 

“The goals we conceded in the previous game, it is a lapse of concentration and once we shore that up, we will be a formidable team.”