Draw for David versus Goliath cup
JOBURG - The stage has been set for the battle for riches in the country's richest soccer tournament.
The Nedbank headquarters in Rivonia Road, Sandton, was abuzz and packed to the rafters with sports journalists and sports personalities who came to witness the launch of the country’s richest football cup competition.
The Nedbank Cup is the richest soccer tournament in the Absa Premiership and the ultimate champions of this 11th edition of the cup are guaranteed to take home an enormous sum of R11,2 million from a whopping R20,3 million that will be shared among the 32 teams taking part.
Read:Â SuperSport in pole position to defend Nedbank Cup
In the running is Highlands Park, the Balfour Park-based team which plays in the National First Division (NFD). In their opening game of the cup, they will travel to the Western Cape to take on fellow NFD outfit Stellenbosch, who missed promotion to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) by the skin of their teeth when they were beaten in the promotional play-offs.
Also in the hunt for riches is Absa Premiership teams Bidvest Wits, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. The ‘three musketeers’ will collide with Cape Town City, Lamontville Golden Arrows and Ajax Cape Town respectively.
Famously known as the David versus Goliath Cup as it features teams from the lower rungs of South African football, the Nedbank Cup lived up to its nickname as the draw pitted some top flight teams against minnows.
Former premiership side Moroka Swallows, now known as Swallows FC who ply their trade in South African Football Association’s ABC Motsepe League, was drawn against premiership team Maritzburg United.
Read:Â Mouthwatering clashes in Nedbank Cup
Mamelodi Sundowns will face Cape Town All Stars, an NFD side while Polokwane City will come face to face with another NFD side Ubuntu Cape Town. There will also be the Free State derby between NFD outfit and Bloemfontein-based Super Eagles up against the high riding Free State Stars.
PSL chairperson Dr Irvin ‘Iron Duke’ Khoza lauded Nedbank for agreeing to another five-year sponsorship of the cup following a decade in the game.
“We have renewed our five-yearly marriage vows with Nedbank and the football-loving public can be assured of the continuation of the richest trophy for another five years,” he said.
Nedbank head of sponsorship and cause marketing Tobie Badenhorst added, “We’re equally gratified to be in this marriage bliss with the PSL and look forward to many more years to come of mutual benefit.”
