Refilwe Sebola
The much awaited Nedbank Cup competition preliminary round for the Holywood bets and the ABC Motsepe leagues is set to start in earnest next weekend.
This was confirmed by the South African Football Association (SAFA) Mopani Regional President Vincent Ramphao. Ramphao said only teams that has already paid their registration fees and have already registered their players will be eligible to participate in the tournament.
Affiliation fee for the Regional league is R4500 while registration for the first 22 players is free. A total of eight teams from the amateur ranks will qualify for the final last 32 draw which includes all the 16 PSL clubs and eight from the National First Division.
Last season it was Vhembe side Mpheni Home Defenders who represented the province in the tournament. They beat ABC Motsepe league side Clarewood MPD of Capetown 3-0 at home in Thohoyandou in the last 32 of the cup and went on to lose 2-0 away to PSL side Chippa United in the last 16.
Meanwhile, Jozy United owner Joseph Machethe says his team is targeting the Nedbank Cup last 32 spot this year. This after the Jamela based side was reported to have recalled their former coach Shakes Manyakalla for the new season. The qualified Bloemfontain born mentor has a Nedbank Cup tournament experience. He was one of the coaches of the Mathaithai team that qualified for the Nedbank Cup last 16 tournament in March 2022. They beat Northern Cape side NC Pros 2-0 in the last 32 but went on to lose 6-0 to the Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the last 16.