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03 February 2020
The Nedbank Cup provides a fantastic platform for players from all tiers of South African football to showcase their quality make a name for themselves on a national stage. This year will be no different when the Nedbank Cup Last 32 kick-offs off on
Wednesday as Chippa United welcome defending champions TS Galaxy to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. It is the first of 16 absorbing ties at this first stage of the competition, and the beginning of a long road to the final in May, where this year’s
champions will be crowned. Here are 10 players that you should look out for in this year's competition!
QUENTIN DEBOUTO (JOMO COSMOS)
Cosmos' Benin forward has been in good form this season, especially the last month or so with five goals in his previous five games. He could be key to getting them over the line against Northern Cape ABC Motsepe league side Hungry Lions when those sides clash on Sunday. Debouto also has two Nedbank Cup goals in his last three
appearances.
LUKE FLEURS (SUPERSPORT UNITED)
The SuperSport defender has made a huge impression since bursting onto the scene this season, though those who follow the South African junior international sides will know all about his quality. The 19-year-old was part of the Ubuntu Cape Town side that had an excellent run in the 2018 Nedbank Cup, and so has fond memories of this competition. He is up against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday night.
WASEEM ISAACS (STELLENBOSCH FC)
Isaacs has been the lead striker for Stellenbosch this season and appears to be finally reaching his full potential at the age of 29. He is a bustling forward with pace and strength, and much of Stellies' play will go through him when they host Maritzburg United on Friday. He has yet to score in the Nedbank Cup in seven previous appearances.
LESEDI KAPINGA (BLACK LEOPARDS)
One of the most talked about players in the South African game at present, Kapinga has been likened to Bafana Bafana star Percy Tau and is certainly thrilling to watch. He is a playmaker with five goals to his name this season, but is also yet to find the back of the net in the Nedbank Cup after three appearances for Leopards and former club Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhadila.
SIBUSISO MKHONTO (VAAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY)
Mkhonto is the captain of the lowest ranked side in the Nedbank Cup this year, and at the age of 21 carried much responsibility. He will lead the fourth-tier side from the right-back position as they host Lamontville Golden Arrows on Saturday. It is a massive chance for Mkhonto and his teammates impress.
KEOIKANTSE MOSIATLHAGA (AJAX CAPE TOWN)
Mosiatlhaga has been nothing short of magnificent for ajax this season, netting an incredible 16 goals in 20 starts, including in the preliminary round of the Nedbank Cup earlier in the campaign. The former BidVest Wits, Cape Town All Stars and Stellenbosch FC star is having his breakthrough season in 2019-20 and will be confident of netting again versus TS Sporting on Thursday.
MENZI NDWANDWE (UTHONGATHI)
Ndwandwe has been one of the stars in the GladAfrica Championship this season and will have the chance to prove he belongs in the Premier League when he faces Highlands Park on Saturday. The former AmaZulu forward has six goals this season and will be the dangerman for the Lions of the North to contend with.
THABO NODADA (CAPE TOWN CITY)
The workhorse in the midfield for City, he is industrious, intelligent and full of skill as a box-to-box midfielder who can both break up opposition attacks and also launch his side towards goal. His all-action style means he is always part of the game and will be a key cog for City when they travel to Mbombela United on Sunday.
BONGI NTULI (AMAZULU)
Perhaps the most incredible statistic floating around South African football this season is that AmaZulu have scored 12 league goals...and Ntuli has 11 of them! It just shows his huge value to the side that in over 32 hours of football, only one other player in the squad has managed to get on the scoresheet. He netted the last time AmaZulu went to Bloemfontein Celtic in December, where they won 2-1.
BAFANA SIBEKO (PASSION FC)
Sibeko will lead third-tier Passion FC at home to Real Kings, and is the most experienced player in the squad after previously turning out for Black Leopards, Chippa United and Cape Town All Stars. His only other Nedbank Cup appearance came in 2012 though as Leopards lost 4-0 to Kaizer Chiefs. That is a memory he will want to erase with a famous win over Kings.
*The views represented are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent those of Nedbank.