The Last 16 round of the 2024-25 Nedbank Cup will take centre stage over the next five days, as heavyweights such as Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs look to avoid a dreaded ‘C-upset’.
Chiefs have, on paper, the toughest tie of the three giant clubs, as they lock horns with Chippa United at the FNB Stadium in Saturday’s early-evening kick-off.
The Amakhosi have endured a season of inconsistent results and only the Nedbank Cup remains as a path to avoid hitting the 10-year mark since they last lifted a trophy.
The good news is that they beat Chippa 1-0 in the teams’ most recent meeting (a league clash in late December last year) and come into this game on the back of an impressive 1-0 away win over Stellenbosch FC last weekend, in which new signings Thabo Cele, Glody Lilepo and Tashreeq Morris really showed the value they have added to the team.
“And as well Thabo [Cele] is a player that we have been following, he is a player that likes the ball, we want those kinds of players who are brave, who want to play, who want to play,” said Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi of the trio.
“Tashreeq, I believe most people were surprised that Tashreeq goes to Kaizer Chiefs, but you can see the quality that he brings to the team. Now we can play the ball up and he can hold it, he can give us enough time to get up there.
“Lilepo we believe that he hasn’t even started because we know that he can even do more than what he is doing.”
Orlando Pirates, the Nedbank Cup’s reigning champions, will face second-tier Baroka FC at the Orlando Stadium earlier on Saturday. The Buccaneers will want to recover quickly from the 4-1 humbling they received at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns in last weekend’s key league encounter.
“This was just one game,” said coach Jose Riveiro. “Obviously it is not nice to lose 4-1 because we came here with the intention to compete and collect three points. On Saturday, we go again against Baroka and we hope to continue with our good record in the Nedbank Cup.”
Sundowns will be in action in what is scheduled to be the final Last 16 match, as they host Mpheni Home Defenders (from the third-tier ABC Motsepe League) at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Brazilians are likely to field a changed line-up, as they rest key players for a busy final stretch of the season in both the Betway Premiership and CAF Champions League, but it’s hard to see any way in which the minnows can bridge the gap in quality. Then again, one would have said the same for the Plymouth Argyle and Liverpool FA Cup tie this past weekend.
The Nedbank Cup Last 16 gets going on Wednesday evening at the Lucas Moripe Stadium with SuperSport United hosting second-tier Cape Town Spurs, while Thursday evening at the Danie Craven Stadium brings an all top flight battle between Stellenbosch and Polokwane City.
The weekend’s action opens on Friday night at the Chatsworth Stadium, as second-tier league leaders Durban City look to upset top flight TS Galaxy, while other matches on the card are Marumo Gallants hosting AmaZulu in Bloemfontein and a To Be Confirmed clash pitting either Milford FC or Royal AM against Sekhukhune United.
The outstanding Last 32 match between Milford and Royal has not been decided due to the latter club’s ongoing suspension and financial difficulties.
Nedbank Cup Last 16 fixtures
Wednesday 12 February
19:00: SuperSport United v Cape Town Spurs
Thursday 13 February
19:00: Stellenbosch FC v Polokwane City
Friday 14 February
19:00: Durban City v TS Galaxy
Saturday 15 February
15:00: Marumo Gallants v AmaZulu FC
15:00: Orlando Pirates v Baroka FC
18:00: Kaizer Chiefs v Chippa United
TBC: Milford FC/Royal AM v Sekhukhune United
Sunday 16 February
15:00: Mamelodi Sundowns v Mpheni Home Defenders