Following Peter Shalulile’s hat-trick for Mamelodi Sundowns against Marumo Gallants in their Last 16 clash on Thursday, there have now been 17 ‘trebles’ scored in the 16 years of the Nedbank Cup.
But it was only the second time in the last six seasons that a player has netted a hat-trick, a surprise given the nature of the competition that pits the minnows against some of the giants of the local game.
That single other success since 2017 came when Tashreeq Morris netted a hat-trick for Cape Town City against Bloemfontein Celtic in the Last 32 of the Nedbank Cup in 2021.
He has since moved on to Sekhukhune United and could feature in this year’s Last 16 against former side Cape Town Spurs having netted in the last round versus Liver Brothers.
Shalulile’s effort was only the fourth time that a Nedbank Cup hattrick has been scored against a topflight club, with Black Leopards on the receiving end on two occasions.
AmaZulu’s Mpho Maleka scored a treble against them in 2008 and Kaizer Chiefs’ Lehlohonolo Majoro netted four in 2012, to go with the more recent Morris and Shalulile efforts.
The most famous hat-tricks came as Sundowns defeated Powerlines FC 24-0 in 2012, and in doing so saw Hlompho Kekana (seven goals) and Nyasha Mushekwi (six) both score ‘double hat-tricks’ in an incredible fixture. The late Richard Henyekane also got in on the act with five goals.
Kekana’s haul remains the most goals ever scored in a single Nedbank Cup match by a player, while his career total of 11 had made him the leading scorer in the competition since 2008 before Shalulile shot past him with five goals this term for a career tally of 14.
Dumisani Ngwenya (five) was also among the goals as AmaZulu thumped Young Ones 14-0 in 2008, while Ayanda Dlamini scored three against Real Madrid in 2011.
The only hat-trick of Musa Nyatama’s career came when he netted three against University of Stellenbosch in 2014.
There were two hat-tricks scored in 2016 as Bongi Jayiya netted for Mpumalanga Black Aces against lower league United Rovers, and Daine Klate scored four goals as BidVest Wits brushed aside Magesi FC 6-0.
AmaZulu and Sundowns have managed the most Nedbank Cup hat-tricks since 2008 with four each, followed by Free State Stars, Kaizer Chiefs (two each), Black Leopards, Celtic, Wits, Black Aces and Cape Town City (one each).
NEDBANK CUP HAT-TRICKS BY YEAR
2023
Peter Shalulile – Mamelodi Sundowns v Marumo Gallants
2022
None
2021
Tashreeq Morris – Cape Town City v Bloemfontein Celtic
2020
None
2019
None
2018
None
2017
None
2016
Bongolethu Jayiya – Mpumalanga Black Aces v United Rovers
Dane Klate (four goals) – BidVest Wits v Magesi FC
2015
Siphelele Mthembu – Kaizer Chiefs v Edu Sports
2014
Musa Nyatama – Bloemfontein Celtic v University of Stellenbosch
2013
Brian Amidu (four goals) – Black Leopards v Cape Town All Stars
2012
Hlompho Kekana (seven goals) – Mamelodi Sundowns v Powerlines FC
Nyasha Mushekwi (six goals) – Mamelodi Sundowns v Powerlines FC
Richard Henyekane (five goals) – Mamelodi Sundowns v Powerlines FC
Lehlohonolo Majoro (four goals) – Kaizer Chiefs v Black Leopards
2011
Ayanda Dlamini – AmaZulu v Real Madrid
2010
Sthembiso Ngcobo – Free State Stars v Tower United
2009
None
2008
Collins Chabalala – Free State Stars v Ikapa Sporting
Mpho Maleka – AmaZulu v Black Leopards
Siyabonga Mkhwanazi – AmaZulu v Young Ones
Dumisani Ngwenya (five goals) – AmaZulu v Young Ones