Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy is determined to claim a positive result in their MTN8 semi-final first leg against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.

ALSO READ: Chiefs sign Manyama 

The Citizens progressed to the last four after claiming a 1-0 win over Maritzburg United in the quarter-final and will now play host to the Brazilians at Cape Town Stadium.

McCarthy wants his side to beat Sundowns at home to give City a ‘fighting chance’ in the return leg at Loftus Versfeld Stadium the following week

‘It’s our home game, so we have to give ourselves a good enough chance ahead of the return leg to give ourselves a fighting chance,’ McCarthy told reporters.

‘We can’t concede, and if we can go there with a goal or two, it makes the second half much, much easier. They’ve got the personnel to field two or three different teams and still do well, but we’ll be waiting. I want to put the game to bed at home, because Sundowns with their fans at home are a different animal.’

The 40-year-old coach feels the competition is ‘screaming’ for his side to go all the way and lift his first piece of silverware as coach after falling short in the final last season.

ALSO READ: It’s a dream come true – Lebo Manyama 

‘We’ve done fairly well in this competition and now it’s screaming for us to go on a run and make a good challenge for it,’ he said. ‘This season I’m more determined to get my hands on my first silverware, just to get that feeling in a managerial role.’

McCarthy says he is relishing the chance to take on a club of Sundowns calibre while admitting that selecting his starting XI will be a headache.

‘I think this is match a great platform for all the players, who are now used to playing against or with the big boys. And for the new players there’s no greater motivation being in the semi-finals of a cup competition against a team who won the league last year.’

‘Everyone has been buzzing since yesterday, so choosing my starting eleven will be a nightmare.’

ALSO READ: Five players Chiefs could sign (Part 2)

Kick-off in the Mother City on Saturday is set for 15h00.