Cup football just has that special allure that charms and captivates followers of football across the globe.

The European Champions League, the English FA Cup, the African Champions League and, now, the Nedbank Cup – they are all special tournaments that have both players and supporters salivating at the prospect of the coming action.

Here at Engen Santos, the buzz is all about Sunday’s Nedbank Cup quarter-final tie against Free State Stars, and head coach David Bright and his men are hard at work in preparation for the encounter.

With the anticipation growing ahead of Sunday, the Engen Santos website team will this week grill a few players about their thoughts around cup football and what they rate as some of their best moments.

First up is rising Engen Santos star: RYAN CHAPMAN

What is the best cup game you’ve played in?

- Last month’s Nedbank Cup match against Orlando Pirates when we won 5-4 on penalties. I came off the bench to score the second goal to put us 2-0 up. Pirates fought back to make it 2-2… but we won the game on penalties.

What is the most memorable cup game you’ve watched in South Africa?

- Probably Ajax Cape Town’s victory over Orlando Pirates in the final of the Rothmans Cup in 2000.

What is the most memorable overseas cup game you’ve watched?

- The European Champions League final in Istanbul in 2005 when Liverpool went 3-0 down at half-time, fought back to 3-3… and then won the Cup on penalties.

What is the difference in mental approach between a league and a cup game?

I think what’s crucial is that league position counts for nothing in a cup game. It’s a once-off and it’s all about who wants it the most on the day. Anything can happen in cup football, nothing is predictable.

What are Engen Santos’ chances in the Nedbank Cup quarter-final tie against Free State Stars on Sunday?

I expect it to be a really tough match. We are away from home and it’s never easy playing in the Free State. But I think we can do it. We have had a decent cup run, the players are on form, there’s a great team spirit and I think we have what it takes to pull it off. As I said, it’s all about performance on the day, so it’s all up to us to make sure we go through to the semi-finals.

Can Engen Santos go all the way to the final of the Nedbank Cup?

I honestly believe we can.