Sekhukhune and AmaZulu face off in first Nedbank Cup meeting

The next round of the Nedbank Cup will see Sekhukhune United take on AmaZulu for the first time in a cup competition at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Thursday evening.

Kick-off is at 7pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

Sekhukhune are coming off the back of an impressive 4-1 victory against Moroka Swallows in the DStv Premiership. The Limpopo team is unbeaten in their last three league fixtures and they made it to the Round of 16 of the Nedbank Cup after beating Highlands Park in a penalty shootout.

Pre-match thoughts with our Head Coach Lehlohonolo Seema ahead of tomorrow's #NedbankCup round of 16 encounter against @AmaZuluFootball

🦔🦔🦔#Adibahlabe pic.twitter.com/Lzrp4THd8y
— Sekhukhune United F.C. (@SekhukhuneFc) March 13, 2024

As for AmaZulu, the KZN outfit has had a bit of a stagnancy in terms of their form in the league, drawing their last two fixtures with a 1-1 scoreline against SuperSport United and Swallows respectively. They beat Royal AM 1-0 to get into the next phase of the Nedbank Cup.

⚪️ NEXT MATCH • #DStvPremiership 🏆

🆚 @SekhukhuneFc
📍 Peter Mokaba Stadium
📅 Thursday, 14 March
🕑 19:00
📺 SS PSL (Channel 202)
🎫 https://t.co/xbO1ug9b26#Indlulamithi #HebeUsuthu #UsuthuTogether pic.twitter.com/XDYcFIxbTt
— AmaZulu FC (@AmaZuluFootball) March 12, 2024

WHAT WAS SAID

In the run-up to this cup match, Sekhukhune coach Lehlohonolo Seema downplayed his club's improved form, whereas counterpart Pablo Franco Martin is hoping for a double over Sekhukhune, having won 1-0 in the league in December.

“There is a lot of work that we still need to do. We can’t say we are flying high, never. We need to fight and we are looking forward to the next game,” said Seema.

AmaZulu coach Martin has been vocal about the improvements that the team has been making to get better results and is looking to improve in the Nedbank Cup.

“We’re trying to improve what we did in the first half of the season but the improvements are just coming from the technical staff and the players themselves,” Franco Martin said.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sekhukhune United, Linda Mntambo - The player is beginning to find the form that earned him a spot in his former club Orlando Pirates’ squad and will be expected to contribute, especially after having scored the opener in the victory against Swallows.

AmaZulu, Mlondi Mbanjwa - The midfielder has earned himself a spot in the Bafana Bafana squad for the national team’s next round of friendlies and is one to look out for in what is set to be a crunch match.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

(since 2021/22)

PREVIOUS CUP MEETINGS

N/A – This will be the first cup meeting of Sekhukhune United and AmaZulu.

CUP RECORD

N/A – This will be the first cup meeting of Sekhukhune United and AmaZulu.

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2021/22 Sekhukhune 2-0 AmaZulu Katsande, Ohizu

2021/22 AmaZulu 0-0 Sekhukhune

2022/23 Sekhukhune 0-0 AmaZulu

2022/23 AmaZulu 2-0 Sekhukhune Brooks, Mphahlele