Casric Stars head coach and Chairman Bucs Mthombeni has denied he’s an Orlando Pirates supporter but admits his son, and goalkeeper Wandile Mthombeni is.
Casric produced the unthinkable by taking Pirates all the way to penalties after holding them to a goaless draw after 120 minutes at the Orlando Amstel Arena.
They went on to win in sudden death 5-4, with Mthombeni standing tall with several important saves throughout the historic fixture for the Mpumalanga-based outfit.
There’s undeniably a strong affection to the Soweto giants running through the Mthombeni family – but Bucs suggested it ends with himself and his wife.
“My late mom was a number one Pirates fan, then my uncle, the late Moses Mahlangu, he was very close to Jomo Sono, he was a Pirates fan, he recruited most of my family to support Pirates, I was the only neutral one,” Mthombeni said.
“I wanted to persue a dream of coaching and I stayed neutral, my son, the goalkeeper who kept a clean sheet, he’s a Pirates fan and my other son Mlondi, he’s also a Pirates fan and they are recruiting everyone in the family too.
“I just… what’s made me more excited, is winning for the boys, because at home it’s just myself and my wife who are neutral, but everyone else is Pirates. The players there was some doubt in him starting [in goals], they asked if he is sure he will give it his all?
“I said he signed a contract, if he can’t commit himself here, I think his job will be on the line, of course I was joking but yeah even my younger brother, didn’t come to the stadium because he didn’t know where he would stand, as a Pirates supporter.
“I think he watched on TV at home, most of the family supports Pirates, but I respect the Chairman here, but tough luck hey…”
Casric joined AmaZulu, Durban City, Golden Arrows and TS Galaxy as the five confirmed quarter-finalists in the Nedbank Cup.