NFD League to begin its campaign for qualification for Nedbank Cup

The long road of qualification for the Premier Soccer League’s (PSL) richest cup competition, the Nedbank Cup is set to begin for the National First Division (NFD) League teams.

The battle begins in earnest for the 16-team league, which is a precursor to the lucrative Absa Premiership, on the weekend of 1 and 2 December following a draw that was conducted at the headquarters of the Premier Soccer League in Parktown on 19 December.

The Nedbank Cup involves the participation of all the 16 teams of the Absa Premiership, eight from the NFD and another eight from the structures of the South African Football Association (Safa).

The Safa teams come from the second division’s ABC Motsepe League and the third division’s SAB League. The SAB League is a feeder to the ABC Motsepe League while the latter feeds into the NFD and then eventually the Absa Premiership.

Drawmaster and PSL chief operating officer Professor Ronnie Schloss said communities in the respective areas of the various teams were in for an avalanche of football.

“These teams attract multitudes of followers in their areas who fill the stadia week-in-week-out and this has contributed tremendously to the competitiveness of the NFD League, which is now truly a precursor to our prestigious Absa Premiership,” he said.

The Prof, as he is better known in football circles, urged the communities to continue to support their teams and also come out in their numbers for the Nedbank Cup games.

The Safa structure teams are yet to play their preliminary games to qualify for the eight spots available. Schloss said venues and times for these games will be announced by the PSL at a later date.

The NFD draw is as follows (home team first):

Tshakhuma FC vs Ubuntu Cape Town

Cape Umoya United vs TS Sporting

Jomo Cosmos vs Real Kings

Richards Bay FC vs Royal Eagles

Stellenbosch FC vs Mbombela United

Witbank Spurs vs Uthongathi FC

TS Galaxy vs Ajax Cape Town

Tuks FC vs Maccabi FC.