29 January 2020

GladAfrica Championship side TS Galaxy begin the defence of their 2019 Nedbank Cup title away at Chippa United on February 5, but will be wary that history has not always been kind to the holders. Seven of the previous 11 winners of South Africa’s most prestigious knockout trophy have not made it past the second round of the competition the following year in the defence of their title. And worse, the champions have been knocked out in the first round in the last two years after SuperSport United (2018) and Free State Stars (2019) suffered that fate.  Galaxy will be desperate to avoid making it a hat-trick at the Nelson MandelaBay Stadium against a very good Chippa side, and will rather seek to focus on the positives.

SuperSport United, who have lifted the trophy three times, are the only team to retain the title, a feat they managed in 2017, though they then went out in the first round the following year when they lost on penalties to Bloemfontein Celtic. SuperSport also reached the final in 2013 having won the Nedbank Cup the previous year, but lost to Kaizer Chiefs in their attempt to retain the trophy. Mamelodi Sundowns (2009), Moroka Swallows (2010), BidVest Wits (2011), Orlando Pirates (2012 and 2015) all exited the competition in the second round the year after winning the competition. Chiefs (2014) and Sundowns (2016) both made the semi-finals as champions but managed to get no further. Galaxy will perhaps be disappointed with yet another away draw, which means they will have yet to play in front of their own fans in all six of their Nedbank Cup encounters in the club’s brief history. Tickets for the Nedbank Cup Last 32 are on sale at TicketPro outlets and selected SASOL garages countrywide. Prices will start at R40 for adults, and R15 for children under the age of 12. Supporters can also purchase tickets online at www.ticketpros.co.za. 

 

RECORD OF NEDBANK CUP CHAMPIONS IN TITLE DEFENCE     

 

YEAR   WINNER                        NEXT SEASON’S FINISH       

  
2008    Mamelodi Sundowns         Second round

2009    Moroka Swallows              Second round

2010    Bidvest Wits                     Second round

2011    Orlando Pirates                 Second round

2012    SuperSport United             Runners-up

2013    Kaizer Chiefs                     Semifinals

2014    Orlando Pirates                  Second round

2015    Mamelodi Sundowns           Semifinals      

2016    SuperSport United              Winners

2017    SuperSport United               First round

2018    Free State Stars                  First round

2019    TS Galaxy                               -

 

*The views represented are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent those of Nedbank.

       

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