No player has scored more than two goals in the Nedbank Cup semifinals since 2008 but there is every chance that might be a record broken this year.
Kaizer Chiefs host Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates in the Last 4 on Saturday, while the other match sees Stellenbosch FC welcome Sekhukhune United on Sunday.
They are two cracking semifinal games that have the potential for plenty of entertainment and goals – and perhaps a new mark set at this stage of the competition.
Pirates players Terrence Dzvukamanja and Kermit Erasmus already have two goals at this stage of the competition, though in both cases for other clubs.
Erasmus’ first semifinal goal came for SuperSport United against AmaZulu in 2012, before he netted again at this stage the following year for Matsatsantsa in their 3-2 success against Platinum Stars.
Dzvukamanja netted twice for BidVest Wits three years ago, but ended up on the losing side as they went down 3-2 to Sundowns. He has been in good form of late and will be confident of adding a Soweto Derby goal to his collection.
In all, 10 players have managed to score twice at this stage of the competition, some in a single game and others in two or more semifinals played. This includes two such instances in 2020.
Bloemfontein Celtic’s Victor Letsoalo netted twice in the 3-0 victory over his former team Baroka FC that saw his side into their first Nedbank Cup final in 2020. He is now at Sekhukhune United and sure to be a key man against Stellies.
Retired Mark Haskins netted a semifinal brace for Wits against Free State Stars as they lifted the trophy in 2010, while the now defunct Stars have a brace of their own as Harris Tchilimbou took them into the 2018 decider with victory over Kaizer Chiefs in Durban.
Luvoyo Memela (Pirates), Thobani Mncwango (Baroka FC), Thuso Phala and Sibusiso Zuma (both SuperSport United) have also managed two goals in the semis, while Zakhele Lepasa’s brace famously helped second-tier TS Galaxy stun Lamontville Golden Arrows in 2019.
He is a Pirates player but is on loan at SuperSport United for the rest of this season, so will not feature in the Nedbank Cup semis.
In all, 69 players have scored in the semifinals, at the right end at least, with a further two own goals by the unfortunate Mario Booysen (Maritzburg United) and Lucky Mohomi (Free State Stars).
Among other players who could feature in the semifinals, Pirates’ veteran forward Ndumiso Mabena netted for Bloemfontein Celtic at this stage, though he is scarcely used by The Buccaneers these days.
Pirates Fortune Makaringe (then with Maritzburg United), and Sekhukhune’s Tashreeq Morris (then Ajax Cape Town) and Sibusiso Vilakazi (then BidVest Wits), could all also add to their single goal tally in the past.
NEDBANK CUP SEMIFINAL GOALSCORERS
2 GOALS - Terrence Dzvukamanja (BidVest Wits), Kermit Erasmus (SuperSport United), Mark Haskins (Bidvest Wits), Luvoyo Memela (Orlando Pirates), Zakhele Lepasa (TS Galaxy), Victor Letsoalo (Bloemfontein Celtic), Thobani Mncwango (Baroka FC), Thuso Phala (SuperSport United), Harris Tchilimbou (Free State Stars), Sibusiso Zuma (SuperSport United)
1 - Igor Alves (Moroka Swallows), Andriamirado Andrianarimanana (Kaizer Chiefs), Marawaan Bantam (Bidvest Wits), Khama Billiat (Kaizer Chiefs), Thamsanqa Gabuza (Orlando Pirates), Bradley Grobler (SuperSport United), Sandile Gumede (AmaZulu), Richard Henyekane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Nhlanhla Kubheka (Ajax Cape Town), Mxolisi Kunene (Maritzburg United), Lyle Lakay (Mamelodi Sundowns), George Lebese (Kaizer Chiefs), Mosa Lebusa (Ajax Cape Town), Ndumiso Mabena (Bloemfontein Celtic), Lebohang Maboe (Maritzburg United), Fortune Makaringe (Maritzburg United), Lehlohonolo Majoro (Kaizer Chiefs), Keletso Makgalwa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Mpho Makola (Orlando Pirates), George Maluleka (Kaizer Chiefs), Jabulani Maluleke (Black Leopards), Terrence Mandaza (Maritzburg United), Lerato Manzini (Chippa United), Walter Maponyane (United FC), Thabo Matlaba (Royal AM), Mzikayise Mashaba (Mamelodi Sundowns), Andile Mbenyane (Chippa United), Abbubaker Mobara (Orlando Pirates), Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns), Manti Moholo (University of Pretoria), Lucky Mohomi (Free State Stars), Lebohang Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tashreeq Morris (Ajax Cape Town), Luvo Mpeta (TTM), Katlego Mphela (Kaizer Chiefs), Thabani Mthembu (Platinum Stars), Sandile Mthethwa (Chippa United), Clifford Mulenga (SuperSport United), Kabamba Musasa (Mpumalanga Black Aces), Nyasha Mushekwi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Knox Mutizwa (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Ricardo Nascimento (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thulani Ngcepe (Moroka Swallows), Sthembiso Ngcobo (BidVest Wits), Kingston Nkhatha (Free State Stars), Thabiso Nkoana (SuperSport United), Ayanda Nkosi (Free State Stars), Esrom Nyandoro (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bernard Parker (Kaizer Chiefs), Rodney Ramagalela (Black Leopards), Pavel Safranko (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tlou Segolela (Orlando Pirates), Gaston Sirino (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tintswalo Tshabalala (Platinum Stars), Sibusiso Vilakazi (BidVest Wits), Vincent Xakane (Black Leopards), Mthokozisi Yende (University of Pretoria), Sandile Zuke (TS Galaxy), Dumisani Zuma (Kaizer Chiefs)
OWN GOALS - Mario Booysen (Maritzburg United), Lucky Mohomi (Free State Stars)