When Stellenbosch FC and TS Galaxy step out at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday afternoon, it will be the first time Samir Nurkovic plays in a cup final since arriving in South Africa to play for Kaizer Chiefs four years ago.
And, as much as Nurkovic is relishing the prospect playing in a cup final, the TS Galaxy striker will not put himself under pressure to win the Carling Knockout Cup.
The Serbian striker burst onto the SA football scene by scoring goals for fun in Chiefs colours before injuries hindered his progress.
As a result of injuries, he parted ways with Soweto giants in 2022 and signed a deal with Royal AM but didn’t feature for the KwaZulu-Natal side in an official match and his contract was terminated three months later.
Samir Nurkovic found a new home in the middle of the current season at Galaxy and has already hit the ground running with three goals to his name. The 31-year-old nearly won the DStv Premiership title with Chiefs back in 2020 but they lost out on the last day of the season.
He did play in final while at Chiefs but it was in the 2021 CAF Champions League, where they lost to Al Ahly.
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“I never achieved something like that,” said Nurkovic. “Never trying to put myself under that pressure to think, I have to win some trophy or we need to do something. It’s really important to stay firm, like on the ground and just keep working hard training every game.
“Push yourself to the maximum. Each and every player do whatever coach is asking from us and if it’s meant to be so like I said, just put some hard work and everything else will come.”