Clubs look to Nedbank Cup to boost confidence

Maritzburg United coach Simo Dladla admits his side have been handed a “terrible draw” on paper in the Nedbank Cup Last 16 as they prepare to face giants Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday, but says it has already been a positive spin-off for his side.

Maritzburg, who were relegated from the DStv Premiership at the end of last season, are unbeaten in 2024 with two wins and three draws, having endured a difficult first half of the campaign.

Dladla admits their upturn in form of late is in part due to his players raising their level because everyone in the squad wants to face all-conquering Sundowns, making competition for places fierce.

“It is a terrible draw for us, looking at where we are and where Sundowns are, and everything they have with the quality that is there,” Dladla said. “But I believe we have talent and this year we have turned the corner in terms of our performances.

"I have already benefited from the draw as a coach because every player wants to play this game.”

Sundowns have won all 19 games against lower league sides in the Nedbank Cup since 2008, scoring 73 goals and conceding only four.

Maritzburg are not the only side seeking to use the Nedbank Cup to find form and boost confidence. Topflight Richards Bay are second-bottom in the DStv Premiership and have a single win in their last five games, which was a 3-2 success over Polokwane City in the cup.

Next up for them is a home clash with SuperSport United in the Last 16 on Saturday.

"In our situation, the Nedbank Cup can give us a boost and (a win over SuperSport) will paint a picture that shows us still competing next season in the PSL,” co-coach Vusi Vilakazi said.

Richards Bay produced a surprise 3-1 victory at home against SuperSport United when these sides met in the league on December 30. Overall, SuperSport lead the head-to-head 2-1 with a single draw.

Milford FC stunned South African football when they ousted Kaizer Chiefs from the Last 32 on penalties and will host another topflight side in Stellenbosch FC on Friday night.

Assistant coach Nkululeko Buthelezi says the focus this week is getting the players to perform to the best of their abilities, and then they will see what result that can provide against a Stellenbosch team that is unbeaten since September.

“We are focusing only on the performance of the players. If players play well then we can look forward and grow as a team.” Buthelezi said.

Stellenbosch made the semifinals last year and are a team on the up after their Carling Knockout success in December, but also needed penalties to advance from the Last 32, though they should have wrapped up their tie against second-tier Pretoria Callies long before the 120 minutes was up.

Another side hoping for an upset is Free State ABC Motsepe League outfit D’General, who host 2019 Nedbank Cup winners TS Galaxy on Sunday.

Galaxy are the only side from outside of South Africa’s topflight to lift the coveted knockout trophy, and D’General coach Morena Lothane says that is an inspiration to his players.

“We are inspired by Galaxy’s achievements, and we are going to explore against them the same mentality they used to plot Chiefs’ defeat in 2019,” Lothane says.

“Qualifying for the quarterfinals will inspire the players to aspire to even greater heights and further demonstrate to upcoming players it is possible.”

They have two wins in 17 away games over the past 13 months and in the league have only managed to score a goal in one of their nine away fixtures. D’General will be banking on homeground advantage.