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20 January 2020
The 32 teams that will play in the first round of the Nedbank Cup will be turning their thoughts towards knockout success soon, but before that are involved in league action that gives pointers about their form. There are 16 teams from the Premier League, eight from the GladAfrica Championship, seven from the ABC Motsepe League and one from the fourth-tier, the SAB Regional League. Here is a round-up of how their weekend matches went ahead of the Nedbank Cup Last 32.
AJAX CAPE TOWN
Ajax were not in action this weekend, but last played on Wednesday last week when they went down 1-0 to TS Sporting...the same side they will face in the Nedbank Cup Last 32! That is now back-to-back defeats for the Urban Warriors.
AMAVARARA
The Eastern Cape ABC Motsepe League side were held to a 1-1 draw by Birmingham City on Saturday. They are seventh, six points off the top of the table.
AMAZULU
Usuthu lost a provincial derby to Maritzburg United on Friday night, which leaves them bottom of the Premier League. Their last four games have seen them claim a single draw and three defeats.
BAROKA FC
Baroka lost 1-0 at Stellenbosch FC, a fourth loss in five games. New coach Dylan Kerr has a big job to do when he finally gets his work permit.
BLACK LEOPARDS
Leopards held run-away Premier League leaders Kaizer Chiefs to a 1-1 draw in Thohoyandou. The point was earned via a special free-kick from Mogakolodi Ngele, who has a knack of scoring spectacular goals.
BLOEMFONTEIN CELTIC
Ndumiso Mabena gave Celtic the lead at home to Chippa United, but they were pegged back to 1-1 and had to settle for a point. It was a third goal in six games for the in-form striker.
BIDVEST WITS
Wits lost 2-0 at Cape Town City, a game in which they had more than enough chances to win, but left their shooting boots at home. It was a first league defeat in eight games.
CAPE TOWN CITY
City beat Wits thanks to goals from Kermit Erasmus and Craig Martin, a huge win for a team that has had a surprisingly lacklustre season.
CHIPPA UNITED
Chippa claimed a credible 1-1 draw at Bloemfontein Celtic after a penalty from William Twala earned them a point.
HAPPY WANDERERS
Wanderers were held to a 1-1 draw by Summerfield Dynamos in the KwaZulu-Natal ABC Motsepe League and are now seven points off league leaders Mvoti United.
HIGHLANDS PARK
Highlands lost a third game in a row with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Orlando Pirates. These are tough times for the Lions of the North. They will hope the Nedbank Cup can reignite their season.
HUNGRY LIONS
Lions claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Kakamas Sundowns in the Northern Cape ABC Motsepe League to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. They now have nine wins and five draws from their 14 games, with only nine goals conceded.
JOMO COSMOS
Cosmos lost 1-0 at in-form Moroka Swallows at the weekend and remain in second-bottom place in the GladAfrica Championship. They have the least number of goals scored (12) in the division.
LAMONTVILLE GOLDEN ARROWS
Golden Arrows let a lead slip at struggling Polokwane City as they drew 1-1. Knox Mutizwa had put them in front, but they could not hold on.
KAIZER CHIEFS
Samir Nurkovic put Chiefs in front at Black Leopards, but they could not go on to win after drawing 1-1. They have only lost three games in 21 in all competitions this season.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Sundowns claimed a 2-1 victory over Tshwane rivals SuperSport United in the league on Sunday, a massive boost in confidence as they prepare to host the same opposition in the Nedbank Cup Last 32! Themba Zwane and Thapelo Morena were on target for the team.
MARITZBURG UNITED
Maritzburg claimed a precious 1-0 home win over AmaZulu in front of a packed Harry Gwala Stadium as Thabiso Kutumela got the all-important goal, his second in three games. The team is up to sixth in the league.
MBOMBELA UNITED
United lost 1-0 at Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhadila in the GladAfrica Championship, and still only have one win in nine on the road. Fortunately for them, they are home to Cape City in the Nedbank Cup!
NORTH WEST UNIVERSITY
NWU suffered a set-back at the weekend when they lost 1-0 away at Captain Eleven FC in the North West ABC Motsepe League, the continuation of some poor league form this season. The side have now won only four of their 16 league games to date.
ORLANDO PIRATES
The resurgence of Pirates under German coach Josef Zinnbauer continues as they brushed aside Highlands Park with a 3-1 win. There was also another goal for Malawian striker Gabadinho Mhango, who has now netted in his last five games and has 13 in all competitions this season!
PASSION FC
Passion FC claimed a 2-1 home win over Nkomazi Real Aces in the Mpumalanga ABC Motsepe League, just their fifth win in 14 matches this campaign. They do have among the best defences though with only 12 goals conceded.
POLOKWANE CITY
City managed a come-from-behind 1-1 draw with Lamontville Golden Arrows but still have just a single win in their previous 14 games, which includes 12 losses.
REAL KINGS
Kings' good recent run in the GladAfrica Championship was ended as they lost 2-1 at home to Steenberg United. Strangely, Kings have had much more joy on the road than in front of their own fans this season. They are away to Passion FC in the Nedbank Cup Last 32.
ROYAL EAGLES
Eagles, dismal run in the GladAfrica Championship continued as they lost 4-1 to fellow strugglers Cape Umoya United. The team has now conceded 36 goals in 18 games, or two per match, and are rooted to the foot of the table.
STELLENBOSCH FC
Stellenbosch beat Baroka FC 1-0 at home to record back-to-back victories, the first time they have ever managed that in the top-flight. Waseem Isaacs scored the all-important goal.
SUPER EAGLES
Super Eagles brushed aside 2016 Nedbank Cup Last 32 contenders Sibanye Golden Stars 3-1 to continue their excellent form in the Free State ABC Motsepe League. They are second in the division, two points behind Mangaung United.
SUPERSPORT UNITED
SuperSport were beaten 2-1 by Mamelodi Sundowns, who they face again in the Nedbank Cup Last 32. They have already defeated Matsatsantsa in the top eight competition, and met twice in the league, so the Nedbank Cup tie will be their fifth match of the campaign!
TS GALAXY
The Nedbank Cup holders have found the going tough in the GladAfrica Championship this season and after a 0-0 draw at Mbombela
United last week, were beaten 2-1 by JDR Stars. They are now just five points
above the drop-zone.
TS SPORTING
Sporting grabbed a precious 1-0 away win at Ajax Cape Town last Wednesday and were not involved in action over the weekend.
UTHONGATHI
Uthongathi returned to winning ways after a lean spell in the GladAfrica Championship, beating Richards Bay 1-0 on Sunday.
VAAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
VUT lost 5-2 to Nale Academy at the weekend, not great preparation for their Nedbank Cup Last 32 tie against Lamontville Golden Arrows.
ZIZWE UNITED
United kept up their unbeaten start to the Western Cape ABC Motsepe League season when they beat Royal Blues 4-2 to make it seven wins and four draws from 11 matches. They have only conceded six goals all season!
*The views represented are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent those of Nedbank.