'Kasi side' Soweto Super United ready for historic Milford FC Nedbank Cup clash

On Tuesday evening, all eyes will be on two crucial Nedbank Cup matches that mark the conclusion of the Round of 32.

At the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, there will be an all-Betway Premiership clash between hosts Polokwane City and high-riding AmaZulu, who are currently being spoken of as potential title contenders.

Meanwhile, at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto, third-tier side Soweto Super United (SSU) will host Milford FC, a second-tier outfit based in KwaZulu-Natal. SSU coach Thabang ‘Tsetse’ Chauke was surprised to learn that their opponents had made the effort to scout them in local domestic action ahead of the tie.

Both matches will kick off at 7pm on Tuesday with the winners advancing to the Round of 16 to join 14 other clubs that have already secured their progression.

The 14 clubs already through are Mamelodi Sundowns, Stellenbosch FC, Durban City, Orlando Pirates, Sekhukhune United, Golden Arrows, TS Galaxy, Richards Bay (all Betway Premiership); University of Pretoria, Casric Stars, Upington City (Motsepe Foundation Championship); and Vasco da Gama, Jacksa Spears and Mkhambathi FC (ABC Motsepe League).

AmaZulu, boasting a strong performance trajectory, will be keen to solidify their status as one of the elite teams in the tournament. Their recent league form has raised expectations, and a win against Polokwane would not only propel them into the next round but also reinforce their ambitions for silverware this season.

AmaZulu’s best showing in the tournament came during the 2009/10 campaign, where they reached the final before suffering a 3-0 loss against a Bidvest Wits side then under the tutelage of Roger De Sa.

Simultaneously, a fascinating match-up looms as SSU hosts Milford FC. SSU, affectionately known as the ‘Top Dogz’, will make their debut in the competition and have come a long way through the lower leagues of South African football. From playing in local Kasi tournaments to more organised structures, coach Chauke recently detailed the club's rise.

“Many people, when you say SSU, they think of SuperSport United,” Chauke said. “We are Soweto Super United; we include M17, where our village is. The villagers established the team in Soweto. We typically played in Kasi tournaments until we could join the formal league. We managed to relocate our village to Soshanguve M17.”

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has announced that the Round of 16 draw will take place on Wednesday at 6pm at the SuperSport Studio 6 in Randburg.