The Nedbank Cup is back with another instalment of the David vs Goliath competition, which will see clubs from the second tier of SA football and amateurs get the opportunity to share the stage with some of the best players in the Premier Soccer League.
This year, the eight Safa division teams from the SAB and ABC Motsepe League include The Bees FC, Free Agents FC, Mpheni Home Defenders, Sibanye Golden Stars, Vasco Da Gama, Mighty Eagles, Umvoti FC, and Lerumo Lions.
The Nedbank Cup is famed for giant slaying and unpredictable results, where the lower-division sides, who usually have nothing to lose, come to the party and knock out the so-called big clubs.
Last season unknown Milford FC were the talk of the town after they knocked out Kaizer Chiefs in the round of 32, while second-tier AmaTuks went as far as the quarterfinals only to lose 4-3 on penalties to Mamelodi Sundowns.
The season before, there was Dondol Stars who eliminated SuperSport United and AmaZulu to reach the quarterfinals.
This season, it remains to be seen how the amateur teams will fare as they have all been pitted against PSL teams.
Sunday World looks at the five Safa division teams that will be going toe to toe with Betway Premiership outfits, while the rest will be facing Motsepe Foundation Championship teams:
Free Agents FC (vs Kaizer Chiefs)
With the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout already gone, Amakhosi realistically only have the proverbial last roll of the dice with the Nedbank Cup to ensure that they don’t go yet another season without a trophy.
But standing in their way are ABC Motsepe league side Free Agents, who must be revving up and ready to cause an upset of biblical proportions against the limping Soweto giants.
“I am excited that we will be playing against Kaizer Chiefs because I think it is everyone’s dream to play against a big club like that,” said Free Agent’s captain Thulani Dhladhla after the draw.
“Since we all know Chiefs have a history of losing against lower division teams, I think this fixture favours us – it means we have a good chance of winning against them and advancing to the next round.”
Sibanye Golden Stars (vs Mamelodi Sundowns)
Just like their counterparts Free Agents, Golden Stars must be high in confidence as they intend to knock out PSL champions Sundowns.
Golden Stars ply their trade in the ABC Motsepe League in Free State. Masandawana, who last won the competition in 2022 and lost in the final last season, will be desperate to redeem themselves and go all the way this time around.
“What we’ve told ourselves is that any final that we reach, we want to win it because we know how it feels to be on the other end of not winning a final.
“So, should we be in a final, we will try by all means to win it,” Sundowns defender Zuko Mdunyelwa said.
Vasco Da Gama (vs TS Galaxy)
Vasco Da Gama of Western Cape will be looking to give TS Galaxy emulate TS Galaxy and give them a taste of their own medicine of being the only lower division team to go on to win the Nedbank Cup.
Galaxy beat Chiefs in the final of the competition during the 2018/19 season.
The Bees (vs Polokwane City)
Representing Mpumalanga alongside Galaxy, The Bees will also be fancying their chances of advancing to the next stage of the competition.
They will be playing against an in-form Polokwane City side that will also be looking to do better in the competition after being eliminated in the round of 32 last season.
Mighty Eagles (vs AmaZulu FC)
Also playing in the ABC Motsepe League from Eastern Cape, Mighty Eagles will be another side that will be competing with nothing to lose, as they will be expected to go all out against Usuthu.
SAFA Division Nedbank Cup fixtures:
Polokwane City v The Bees
Kaizer Chiefs v Free Agents FC
Mpheni Home Defenders v Hungry Lions
Mamelodi Sundowns v Sibanye Golden Stars
TS Galaxy v Vasco Da Gama
Umvoti FC v Baroka FC
AmaZulu FC v Mighty Eagles
Lerumo Lions vs Durban City
