By GIFT NDOLWANE
JOHANNESBURG – EXPERIENCING contrasting fortunes after changes to their respective technical staff, the Limpopo sides campaigning in the elite league face tricky encounters in the Nedbank Cup but are buoyed by the dominant records against their upcoming cup opponents.
On Tuesday evening, resurgent Baroka FC, still on a high after beating league hopefuls Supersport United this past weekend and earlier holding another contender, Kaizer Chiefs, to a draw, are in action against Platinum Stars in the Last 16 .
Kickoff is 19h30 at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, three days after the hosts beat Supersport 1-0.
They hold a good record against Stars Rustenburg side 3-1 in the Telkom Knockout Cup last 16 last year.
The win over Dikwena was preceded by a 1-0 victory against the same side in the league at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in September.
The second round clash in February finished goalless.
Baroka are on a roll after Kgoloko Thobejane was retained as coach in place of the suspended Jacob Sakala.
Elsewhere, Polokwane City started life without resigned coach, the Belgian Luc Eymael, with a 1-0 defeat at home to Bloemfontein Celtic ahead of their trip to the Nelson Mandela Bay where Chippa United await.
Chippa who have built a fortress at home but their record against City is atrocious.
They have recorded just a single win in eight overall meetings against their Saturdayopponents. Kickoff is 15h00 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
City has been dominant against the Chilli Boyz, including a Nedbank Cup preliminary round game in the 2011/12 season. City lost1-0 with Khomotso Mpaketsane, one of four players to be killed in a rod accident late 2012 the scorer.
Chippa have hosted City on three occasions, claiming a 2-1 victory last season before they played to a 1-1 draw in Port Elizabeth. Their 2011/12 National First Division clash produced a similar outcome.

– Guardian