Emotional Bucs Mthombeni eyes Nedbank Cup glory in honour of late mother

The Motsepe Foundation Championship side are through to the semifinals and were on Monday night drawn away to Durban City after eliminating AmaZulu at the weekend.

An emotional Mthombeni believes there would be no better way to honour her memory than by going all the way and winning the trophy.

"Definitely my brother as the referee was finishing the game, I don't know, the spirit of my mom just came to me, just to say, if my mum was alive what was missing. I don't want to talk about my father because my mum will be in front of the TV everyday just to watch football and she gave us freedom to say, you'd rather concentrate on football than not do any sport because kids out there that are not doing any sports are doing a lot of things that are wrong,” Mthombeni said. 

“She used to support us and cook for us, I just become emotional and think where her spirit is alive."

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Only after the victory on Saturday evening did Mthombeni reveal that Casric Stars were under enormous pressure after knocking out Orlando Pirates. 

"What made me emotional, I think after we played Orlando Pirates we were so under pressure because people were coming, wishing us luck and even the question that he was coming, I was so emotional,” he added. 

“We played four games and we only conceded one goal before the last 32, that's what was always making me emotional but it's all in the past now. I think it was a test of love."

Mthombeni added that the calibre of the opponent in the semifinals was of little relevance at this stage of the tournament. 

"No, remember now we need to also go back and wait for the draws and then we can start planning but it was actually not something that I was thinking but I always tell the players that they must make sure whatever opponent we are playing. They must give it their all."