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04 February 2020
The Nedbank Cup Last 32 gets under away on Wednesday when defending champions TS Galaxy travel to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium to meet Chippa United (19h30), kicking off a week of thrilling action around the country. Galaxy's run to the title last year was one of the great fairytale stories in South African football, an example of the ‘magic’ of the Nedbank Cup if ever there was one. The second-tier side, nicknamed The Rockets, had to play all five matches away from their Mpumalanga home in 2019, and their victory over Kaizer Chiefs in the final in Durban will live long in the memory. The trick now is to replicate that success, but Chippa United away is one of the tougher starts they could have expected. Chippa don’t lose many home, the only sides to win their in the last 14 matches are giants Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and BidVest Wits., Added to that, Chippa have reached the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup twice in the last three seasons, suggesting they have a formula for success in the competition. Galaxy have struggled in the league since their cup win, and coach Dan Malesela hopes the Nedbank Cup can be a spur to get their confidence back. "We are hoping that this match is one of those things that help us turn our season around. Participating in the Nedbank Cup last season helped us a lot," he told reporters. "Of the difficulties we've been having in the league, we've had many draws, we have to find that motivation to end that and the cup gives us that opportunity."
The 2015 finalists Ajax Cape Town will host TS Sporting (19h30) at the Athlone Stadium on Thursday and do so without a permanent coach after their Dutch tactician Andries Ulderink after he quit last week, despite the club sitting top of the GladAfrica Championship. TS Sporting beat Ajax 1-0 in a league game in Cape Town in January and will hope that the technical team changes at the club create enough uncertainty for them to repeat that feat. The action continues at Athlone on Friday with an all-Premier League affair as Stellenbosch FC host 2018 Nedbank Cup losing finalists Maritzburg United (20h00). "The Nedbank Cup is an important competition for us and we want to do well. We have a tough game, but we will be up for it," Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker said. The only other meeting between the sides earlier this season finished 0-0. There will be seven games on a bumper Saturday that includes the potential for some giant-killing acts and a massive local derby in Tshwane. Mpumalanga ABC Motsepe League side Passion FC make their debut as they host second-tier Real Kings (15h00) at the Kameelrivier Stadium. Kings are also
playing their first match at this stage of the competition. Bloemfontein Celtic host AmaZulu (15h00) at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in an all-Premier League clash.
Celtic have only lost one of their last eight home games...and that was against AmaZulu (1-2) in their final match of 2019. There is also an all-ABC Motsepe League clash between Amavarara and Super Eagles (15h00) at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane, with the away side reaching this stage for the third year in a row. They have lost to Free State Stars and Bloemfontein Celtic, both 1-2, in the last two years but may fancy their chances of advancing against the Eastern Cape debutants.
There is the potential for a massive upset when fourth-tier Vaal University of Technology host Lamontvillle Golden Arrows (15h00) at the Dobsonville Stadium. VUT are the only side from the SAB Regional League in the Last 32 and will be looking to become the first team ever from that division to beat a Premier League team. Last year’s beaten finalists Kaizer Chiefs start their 2020 campaign at home to GladAfrica Championship strugglers Royal Eagles (18h00) in Soweto.It looks a mismatch on paper, but Chiefs have lost to lower league opposition five times since 2008, the most of any club. Highlands Park also host second-tier opposition when they welcome Uthongathi (20h15) to the Makhulong Stadium for a first ever meeting between the sides as the Richards Bay club debut in the Last 32. Highlands have had a solid season in the league and also reached the final of the top eight competition, but have yet to win a Nedbank Cup tie outright without the need for penalties.
Rounding out the action on Saturday is a massive Tshwane Derby as 2008 and 2015 champions Mamelodi Sundowns host three-time winners SuperSport United (20h15) at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. Outside of the Soweto Derby, this is arguably the biggest match in South African football and there will certainly be no love lost between the heavyweight duo. There will be another four games played on Sunday as Orlando Pirates entertain BidVest Wits (15h00) at the Orlando Stadium. These two were finalists when Pirates last won a trophy, beating Wits 3-1 in the 2014 Nedbank Cup final. Jomo Cosmos will welcome Hungry Lions (15h00) to Olen Park in Potchefstroom, with the North Cape ABC Motsepe League side seeking to topple one of the big names in South Africa football, who have hit hard times of late. Black Leopards welcome third-tier North West University 915h00) to the Thohoyandou Stadium in another potential upset, while Mbombela United will host Cape Town City (15h00) at the Kanyamazane Stadium. The final two games of the round will be played next Tuesday, with an all-third-tier clash between Zizwe United from the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal side Happy Wanderers (19h30) at the Athlone Stadium, the latter appearing at this stage for the second time in three years. The last fixture is a local derby as Polokwane City host Baroka FC (19h30) at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, with both seeking to reverse some poor form in the league. 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.
*The views represented are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent those of Nedbank.