Nedbank Cup last 32 provides intriguing matchups

The Nedbank Cup last 32 gets underway on Tuesday and as usual, there is an intriguing set of fixtures involving the giants and minnows of South African football.

We provide a guide to all 16 of the ties that will be played over the course of a week.

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS VS RICHARDS BAY

Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns will have a sense of déjà vu after they defeated Richards Bay 4-0 in the last 32 on their way to lifting the title last season. Back then, the KwaZulu-Natal side were in the second tier but gained promotion at the end of the last campaign and have acquitted themselves superbly in the top flight. These teams met last month in the league, with Sundowns claiming a 2-0 away victory. It is also a battle between the sides that are first and second in the DStv Premiership table.

MARUMO GALLANTS VS MAGESI FC

A Limpopo Derby, Gallants have appeared in the final of the Nedbank Cup in the last two years, winning in 2021 (as TTM) and losing to Mamelodi Sundowns last year. They can now chase a unique hat-trick with no team appearing in the final for three years in succession since 2008. Magesi previously appeared in the last 32 in 2013 and 2016, making the second round on the latter occasion before a chastening 6-0 loss to BidVest Wits. They were a third-tier side on that occasion but are now in the Motsepe Foundation Championship (MFC), having won promotion last season.

SUPERSPORT UNITED VS DONDOL STARS

A Tshwane Derby between three-time winners SuperSport United and Mamelodi-based amateur side Dondol Stars. SuperSport had never lost to lower-league opposition before being ousted from the Nedbank Cup by second-tier TTM last season. Stars are making their last 32 debut. SuperSport were winners in 2012, 2016 and 2017, but then knocked out in the last 32 for four seasons in a row before they reached the quarterfinals in 2022. Stars were formed in 2014 when their current owners purchased the fourth-tier status of Bronkhorstspruit-based MSD Devoted Angels. They have been a feature of the Gauteng ABC Motsepe League since winning promotion and top the table in the current 2022-23 season.

SEKHUKHUNE UNITED VS LIVER BROTHERS

Liver Brothers are the only side from the fourth tier of South African football competing in the Nedbank Cup last 32 this year and will hope to emulate Vaal University of Technology, who ousted Golden Arrows on penalties in 2020. Sekhukhune have looked improved since the arrival of coach Brandon Truter and are hoping to avoid a third successive last 32 defeat. On the face of it, this looks like a home banker, but Sekhukhune will no next to nothing about their minnow opponents.

CAPE TOWN SPURS VS BAROKA FC

Cape Town Spurs are improving under the experienced coaching duo of Shaun Bartlett and Nasief Morris and will provide a big test for three-time Nedbank Cup semifinalists Baroka FC. It was not so long ago that this was a top flight fixture, but both clubs now find themselves in the MFC and bidding for promotion back to the big time. They have yet to meet in the league this season, but this is a repeat of their 2021 Nedbank Cup last 32 clash in Polokwane where Spurs triumphed on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

MARITZBURG UNITED VS KAIZER CHIEFS

Kaizer Chiefs may welcome the fact they have avoided a lower league opponent, such has been the regularity with which they have been beaten by teams in the divisions below them over the years. Chiefs are looking to avoid a hat-trick of first-round exits in the Nedbank Cup as they strive for a first trophy win since 2015, already a club record wait for silverware.

They last lifted this particular trophy in 2013. Maritzburg were runners-up in 2018 but have not made it past the second round in the other seven years since they reached the semifinals in 2014. Chiefs won their last encounter 3-0 at home earlier this season, but in the last nine meetings overall, they only lead the head-to-head 4-3, with two draws. That suggests this could be a close tie.

FC BLACKCROSS VS VENDA FOOTBALL ACADEMY

Free State amateurs FC Blackcross will be relishing bringing Venda Football Academy to Botshabelo and fancy their chances of an upset win. They are debuting in the competition this year, while Venda made the second round in their first showing last season but lost on penalties to University of Pretoria after a thrilling 3-3 draw. In fact, there were 10 goals scored in their two games!

LAMONTVILLE GOLDEN ARROWS VS PRETORIA CALLIES

Both these teams have been Nedbank Cup semifinalists fairly recently, but Callies also have MFC survival on their minds as they sit near the bottom of the second tier, albeit having shown improved form of late. They have former Golden Arrows striker Collins Mbesuma at the club helping their strikers, and he will have an idea or two. Abafana Bes’thende have been knocked out of the Nedbank Cup in the last 32 in the previous three seasons, including by fourth-tier Vaal University of Technology (2020) and second-tier TTM (2022).

MPHENI HOME DEFENDERS VS CLAREWOOD FC

This battle between two ABC Motsepe League sides ensures we will have at least one team from the Safa structures in the last 16. Both make their debut at this stage of the competition and will be seeking to carry some excellent league form into the fixture. Home Defenders are from Limpopo, while Clarewood must travel the breadth of the country from their Cape Town base. They have former Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United defender Mario Booysen in their side.

STELLENBOSCH FC VS SWALLOWS FC

This all-Premiership clash between two sides who tend to blow hot and cold is a difficult one to read, but with just a single victory in their last six Nedbank Cup games, the signs are not good for Stellenbosch. Only two points separate these teams in the league, and Stellenbosch did claim a 2-1 victory at Swallows in September, but The Birds look to have found their wings under new coach Ernst Middendorp.

ALL STARS FC VS ORLANDO PIRATES

Pirates have already lifted the MTN8 this season so are chasing a second trophy and standing in their way in the last 32 is MFC side All Stars, who have settled in well since their relocation from Cape Town to Gauteng. Pirates have only lost once to lower league opposition, a shock 4-1 defeat to third-tier Maluti FET College in 2013, but have just one quarterfinal showing in the last five Nedbank Cups following back-to-back finals defeats in 2016 and 2017. All Stars reached the quarterfinals last year but before that, lost four last 32 games in a row. Although, to be fair, their opponents included Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and BidVest Wits. They have never beaten a top flight side in the competition.

AMAZULU VS TORNADO FC

AmaZulu have been to one cup final this year in the MTN8 and that will have given them the taste for more as they prepare to face Northern Cape ABC Motsepe League side Tornado FC.

The Upington team is not to be confused with the now-defunct club of the same name from the Eastern Cape who appeared in the Nedbank Cup in 2015 and 2019. This Tornado are making their debut and might fancy their chance of an upset against an Usuthu side who have not been past the second round of the Nedbank Cup since they were semifinalists in 2012. They have lost in the Last 32 in seven of their 10 appearances since then, including to third-tier side Tembu Royals in 2013.

MKHAMBATHI FC VS CASRIC STARS

KwaZulu-Natal ABC Motsepe League side Mkhambathi FC might have been hoping for a bigger fish in the last 32 but will find Casric Stars a tough proposition. Their opponents were born out of the ashes of Free State Stars, who were Nedbank Cup winners in 2018, and have Ea Lla Koto legend Paulus Masehe as their co-coach. Both teams are making their debut at this stage of the competition.

TS GALAXY VS AMAVARARA

TS Galaxy have been giant killers in this competition before, not least when they were 2019 winners, beating Kaizer Chiefs in the final, still the only second-tier side to lift the trophy.

They are now in the DStv Premiership and hoping to avoid becoming a victim themselves against Eastern Cape third-tier outfit Amavarara. The latter have competed in the Nedbank Cup before, making the second round in 2020 before losing to Black Leopards. On that occasion, they beat fellow minnows Super Eagles.

CAPE TOWN CITY VS ROYAL AM

These two sides will know each other inside and out. Not only did they meet in the Last 32 of the Nedbank Cup in Durban in 2022, where Royal AM were 2-1 winners, but they also met a month ago in the league. City ran out 2-1 home victors on that occasion. They have played each other on four occasions, with City leading the head-to-head 2-1 and a single draw, which came in Cape Town last April. Both sides will have a real eye on the trophy and see the Nedbank Cup as a realistic chance to bring in silverware.

POLOKWANE CITY VS CHIPPA UNITED

Chippa United were beaten finalists in 2021, the closest they have come to lifting the Nedbank Cup though they have been to three semifinals since 2017. They exited at the hands of second-tier University of Pretoria last year and will hope there is no repeat against the current MFC leaders Polokwane City. City have never been past the quarterfinals and lost in the last 32 in six of their 10 previous appearances in the competition.