Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila has put themselves into the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup after easing to a 3-0 win over lower league club Sinenkani FC at the Mthatha Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
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The Eastern Cape hosts, who play their football in the third-tier ABC Motsepe League, put up a noble fight, but were ultimately outclassed by the GladAfrica Championship visitors. The Limpopo team scored their goals via former top-flight players Rendani Ndou and Rhulani Manzini, as well as Naeem Amoojee.
Tshakhuma gradually built up pressure from the opening minutes, and on the quarter-hour mark, they had their first near-miss: Diamond Thopola provided a fine cross from the right to pick out Tshepo Matete, but his headed effort was tipped over the crossbar by Sinenkani goalkeeper Sphamandla Sabela.
The Eastern Cape hosts offered a threat on the counter-attack and very nearly claimed the lead on a breakaway move in the 28th minute, with Bongani Cele pulling a shot just wide of TTM goalkeeper Gershin Kock’s right-hand post.
On 34 minutes, Sinenkani keeper Sabela made another fine save, turning a curling effort from Matete – which looked destined for the top corner of the net – over the top of the crossbar.
Tshakhuma finally broke the deadlock on 42 minutes, with Rendani Ndou glancing home from Tumi Ngwepe’s cross from the right flank, though the striker and Sinenkani defender Phumlani Mzimela collided heads and both required medical attention in the aftermath.
In fact, Ndou was substituted out in injury time before the interval and replaced by Naeem Amoojee.
Ngwepe almost went from provider to scorer in the opening seconds of the second stanza, firing a beautifully controlled shot on the half volley from the edge of the box, but Sabela made another fine save.
However, the goalkeeper was beaten for a second time – this time by a brilliant finish – as TTM all but killed off the match in the 70th minute: substitute Tlou Masegela provided a fine cross from the right and Rulani Manzini scored with a superb overhead kick that will surely go down as one of the best goals of this Nedbank Cup.
The teams traded scoring chances in what remained of the game, though there was no way back into the tie for Sinenkani, allowing TTM to add a third in injury time via Amoojee to join University of Pretoria, Royal AM, Marumo Gallants and Mamelodi Sundowns in the final eight (with three berths still up for grabs in the rest of the weekend).
Sinenkani FC 0
Tshakhuma TM (1) 3 (Ndou 42’, Manzini 70’, Amojee 90+3’)
Sinenkani: Sabela, Mzimela, Klaas, Ngoba, Mazeka, Mazibuko, Sobhekile (Mseleku 64’), Nomfenge (Mkhize 46’), Mathumbu (Mfeketho 46’ [Nkayiyana 79’]), Mhlongo (Ncwangule 64’), Cele
Tshakhuma: Kock, Thopola, Alabi (Netshilindi 77’), Motloung, Mpeta, Mohoje (Masegela 64’), Ngwepe, Dolamo, Ndou (Amoojee 45+2’), Matete, Manzini (Nkebe 77’)