The Nedbank Cup has never been short of fairytale stories, and this season’s edition, which is so pregnant with major shocks, has been no different. The three Betway Premiership giants Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates were rudely dumped out of the competition by minnows and are already washing their jerseys – they will have to try again next season.
Also known as the national cup, the tournament is based on the English FA Cup model, which gives amateur clubs and those campaigning in the lower divisions an opportunity to rub shoulders with professional teams. It is also a stage for young, unknown players to show their worth against their idols and heroes from the premier leagues. So, it is understandable that most of these players will get to the matches overzealous to impress.
It is a sheer story of David v Goliath, and the tournament is well known for some “giant killing sprees” where the Davids, who have nothing to lose, go for the gonads to achieve the unthinkable and slay their glorified opponents.
Amakhosi and the Buccaneers are no strangers in taking a hiding from amateur clubs. Pirates were once hammered 4-1 by Maluti FET College in 2013, and that’s where Thembinkosi Lorch emerged and came to the fore. This year, it was
Casric Stars’ turn to do a number on the fancied Buccaneers, turning their die-hard fans against coach Abdeslam Ouaddou at the same time. A few weeks ago, when Bucs were riding the crest of a wave, the lanky French-Moroccan was adored and seen as the man who could walk on water. But lately, and after the Casric pasting, they do not give a squat about his spontaneous chest-traps and immaculate touches on the touchlines – they just want to wrestle the league title away from defending champions Sundowns.
Bucs have been playing bridesmaids for too long and Ouaddou must deliver them to the promised land that Jose Riveiro could not after three attempts.
In 2019, Amakhosi were embarrassed in the final at a jam-packed Moses Mabhida by TS Galaxy, who were still playing in the national first division. Galaxy won the trophy with a 1-0 scoreline, plunging legions of Chiefs fans into a state of despair and shame.
Not so long ago, then Amakhosi coach Cavin Johnson apologised to the club’s supporters after they were nailed by KZN amateurs Milford FC. Johnson was later given the boot for turning the glamour boys into a laughingstock.
This season, Chiefs were the first to be humiliated in the Last-32 stage after they were pickpocketed by their nemesis Stellenbosch FC in Cape Town.
Amakhosi did not know what hit them when they exited while the competition was still in its salad days – that’s just the nature of the competition.
Contrary to the script, this year’s quarterfinals have pitted AmaZulu against Casric Stars, Sekhukhune United against Milford FC, TS Galaxy against Jacksa Spears and Golden Arrows against Durban City. The list is not so jaw-dropping but the sponsors are steadfast and bullish about their plans of keeping the tournament alive.
In the 2009 version, it was Bidvest Wits v Amazulu in the finals, and the organisers rode on the fact that the match was used as a dry run at the newly built FNB Stadium for the 2010 World Cup. In the final before in 2008, the extinct Moroka Swallows played against lower side AmaTuks at Rand Stadium, and the match too was also a humdinger. Who can forget the 2027/28 season when Free State defeated Maritzburg United at a jam-packed, neutral venue at the Cape Town Stadium?
By now, the sponsors must have perfected how to play the numbers’ game and how to put bums on seats. It’s just a big pity that they cannot have the blockbuster Chiefs v Pirates final they had last season.
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