Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates hold the aces after both securing 2-0 MTN8 first leg semi-final wins on the weekend.

Bidvest Wits manager Gavin Hunt, after the Students lost 2-0 to Orlando Pirates on Sunday:

“I’m helluva disappointed and I think we could have played here until tomorrow and not scored. The ball just wasn’t bouncing for us. But you just have to pick up the pieces and go again. We’ll have a go next week. Obviously right now we’re right out, so we have to try and win there. But we’ve only scored one goal now in four or five games and that’s certainly a problem for us.”

Orlando Pirates coach Vladimir Vermezovic does not think the Buccaneers are firing on all cylinders just yet, despite their victory over Bidvest Wits:

“We have a lot of quality in our midfield, but sometimes when they are not having a good day it is difficult to build-up play. We weren’t so good in the first half, but with the experience from last year, where we played a lot of cup games, we maintained the game and the second half we took our chances.

“Like I said before the game, nothing is over. Wits have a very strong squad and it won’t be easy next week. But let us celebrate tonight and tomorrow we can start preparing for AmaZulu.”

Pirates midfielder Issa Sarr:

“We really needed this. It is not over, though, we have to win our home game. We worked hard and we deserved the win. I am happy at Pirates, it is my family now and I am settled.”

Platinum Stars coach Allan Freese speaking after the 2-0 defeat to Kaizer Chiefs in Rustenburg on Saturday night:

“Second half we didn’t come out of the change room! I thought we were short of players second half. There’s still another game, I’ll remain positive. We must stay motivated, otherwise we must stop playing.”

AmaKhosi forward Mandla Masango:

“It was payback time, every time we come here (the Royal Bafokeng Stadium) we don’t get a result. But we scored two away goals and will go back to Soccer City with an advantage. It’s good to be back playing football, because football is my life.”

George Maluleka, who was Man-of-the-Match for his two goals against Dikwena:

“I didn’t do it by myself, the guys helped me out there, and it was our win, a team win. They are our so-called voodoo team, but we came out and did very well, so credit to the players and the technical team.”

Maluleka on wearing the Chiefs number 12 jersey, a number made famous by AmaKhosi legends such as Ace Ntsoelengoe and Thabo Mooki:

"The names…..it's unbelievable, they are all legends, and hopefully I can also be able to do the same with the number.”

Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter was pleased to get a result up in the North West, a region AmaKhosi have battled to get results from during the Englishman’s tenure:

“We’ve had massive problems here before, it’s always very, very tight. I think this is the best performance we have given here. Its advantage us, but I’ve seen bigger leads that this lost. For example when I was in Sweden we played against Fiorentina, who should have beaten the life out of us, but we got back in the tie we should have. This is only half way and we have to keep our feet on the ground.”

And finally, Platinum Stars’ Robert Ng’ambi has not given up all hope just yet:

“Its still in our own hands, if we want to fight, we have to fight, to show people we are still defending champions.”