Bradley Grobler the go-to man in cup finals

SuperSport United (SSU) striker and former Benoni High School learner, Bradley Grobler (29), helped make South African football history by scoring a brace of goals and setting up another to steer his club to the defense of the Nedbank Cup.

The man for the big occasion, SuperSport United striker Bradley Grobler, scored two goals and helped engineer another in the Nedbank Cup triumph over Orlando Pirates on Saturday. Photo: SuperSport United

SSU became the first club in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) era to successfully defend the Nedbank Cup after they defeated Soweto giants Orlando Pirates 4-1 in the final at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, on June 24.

Bradley Grobler poses for a photograph with his fiancé Ashton Tosh and the Nedbank Cup trophy at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night.

This follows last year’s triumph for SSU when they defeated the same opposition 3-2 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, in Polokwane.

Glory for Grobler and SuperSport United

Grobler scored a well-taken volleyed goal in that 2016 final and again proved that he is the man for the big occasion this Saturday.

It was a particularly rewarding victory for the Benonian professional after he missed a massive part of the campaign due to a derailing groin injury and subsequent surgery that forced him out of the team for six months this season.

It was a difficult period for the striker who had just, prior to that, returned to the Bafana Bafana fold.

Benonian scores equaliser for Bafana Bafana

“It has been an extremely frustrating season due to injury especially when a coach really believes in you,” said Grobler.

“When I did play, I played well and I was really enjoying my football.

“Scoring in the final was a great feeling especially because I felt that I owed it to the club, the coach and the team who have all believed in me.

“I feel like I let them all down by being injured.”

Asked about his magical night in Durban and again scoring in a cup final, Grobler said: “It’s a feeling you can’t explain. The game is so quick you don’t really have time to think about it until it’s over, but then it sinks in and it is an unbelievable feeling.”

The Nedbank Cup champion said that his immediate goal going forward is simply to stay fit and to play well enough to return to the national team set-up, which is now being run by Stuart Baxter, who steered SSU to the cup on Saturday and last year.

“Stuart is the perfect man for the Bafana job. I want to be a part of that team again,” added Grobler.