Tshwane Derby kick starts the weekend’s Nedbank Cup quarterfinal action
The NedbankCup quarter-finals games between AmaTuks and Sundowns will kick off on 13 April 2024. Picture: @nedbanksport/X
JOHANNESBURG - The Nedbank Cup quarterfinals will take centre stage in local football this weekend as the remaining teams set their sights on winning the last domestic cup up for grabs.
On Friday, the University of Pretoria host Mamelodi Sundowns, who are looking to win a quadruple.
The Brazilians already have one trophy after clinching the inaugural African Football League.
The match is a showdown of two in-form teams as AmaTuks are enjoying a 16-match unbeaten run across all competitions while the DSTV Premiership Champions are unbeaten in 19 matches.
“When it comes to Sundowns, they have got a team that has depth and can play three different starting line-ups and still get results,” Siphiwe Tshabalala told Eyewitness News as he looked ahead to the clash.
With two months of the campaign left, Rulani Mokwena’s charges are fighting on all fronts and recently booked their spot in the last four of the CAF Champions League.
“They are in the semis of the Champions League and I’m sure they want to go all the way and win it. The Nedbank Cup is a big cup, a big competition, and I’m sure they want to add it to their collection,” Tshabalala said on Sundowns' chase for trophies.
On Saturday, there is a double header as Stellenbosch takes on SuperSport United while AmaZulu host defending champions Orlando Pirates at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
“Pirates, they play good football and they have good players,” the former Kaizer Chiefs winger said on the Buccaneers.
“I think the coach’s biggest challenge was to turn these great individuals into a formidable team and he has done that in cup competitions, not so much in the League. Being the defending champions shows the calibre of the team and the mentality as well.
“They know how to win cup games and he [Jose Riveiro] has turned them into cup experts. With respect to AmaZulu, I think Pirates stand a great chance to win this one.”
The last eight action will conclude on Sunday with the clash between TS Galaxy and Chippa United at the Mbombela Stadium.
This year’s edition of the Nedbank Cup will also offer supporters a unique experience to engage with the competition, following the unveiling of South Africa’s first fully-fledged creator house, Ya Rona House.
The house was designed in the guise of the TikTok-style creator houses and features some of South Africa’s top creator talent including Primo and Nqobile Khwezi.
Speaking on the initiative, Tshabalala said the experience allows fans to be part of the action and connect with their love for football most excitingly.
“Fans get an opportunity to come to the Ya Rona House to watch the games with their favourite legends and the best social media influencers in the country. It’s a great experience to watch a game of football in an intimate environment.
“One has to commend Nedbank for the investment that they have made in this year’s edition. Just over R20 million is available to be won and shared, which includes the most important stakeholders, who are the fans”.