Casric Stars Eye Another Giant-Killing as Nedbank Cup Quarterfinals Serve Up High-Stakes Clashes
Motsepe Foundation Championship side Casric Stars will be hoping to continue their remarkable Nedbank Cup run when they face AmaZulu FC in a highly anticipated quarterfinal clash at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
The second-tier outfit stunned South African football last month when they eliminated Orlando Pirates from the Nedbank Cup Round of 16. After holding the Buccaneers to a draw, Casric held their nerve in the penalty shootout to secure a dramatic 5–4 victory at Orlando Stadium on 21 February.
The result was one of the biggest shocks of this year’s competition and firmly established Casric Stars as one of the tournament’s surprise packages.
AmaZulu, meanwhile, booked their place in the quarterfinals after edging Richards Bay FC 1–0 at Richards Bay Stadium on 20 February. The Betway Premiership side will enter the clash as favourites on paper, but they will be wary of a Casric team that has already proven capable of upsetting top-flight opposition.
Speaking after eliminating Pirates in the previous round, Casric Stars owner-coach Bucs Mthombeni made it clear that his side remains focused on taking things one step at a time.
“We don’t want to now start focusing on the Nedbank Cup. We’ll just take one game at a time and it depends who the next opponent is. But for now, we’re going to go back and focus on the league.”
(Image: @casricstars)
Another major upset in the Round of 16 saw Mamelodi Sundowns crash out of the competition after suffering a 2–0 defeat to TS Galaxy at a sold-out Solomon Mahlangu Stadium.
The victory for Galaxy – winners of the competition in 2019 – ensured that two clubs from Mpumalanga progressed to the quarterfinal stage. Galaxy will now host amateur side Jacksa Spears, who compete in the Northern Cape ABC Motsepe League, at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium on Sunday (kick-off 15:00) with a place in the semifinals on the line.
The Nedbank Cup quarterfinals this weekend promise several compelling matchups, including two fixtures featuring lower-tier challengers hoping to upset established sides.
Sekhukhune United will take on Motsepe Foundation Championship side Milford FC on Saturday at New Peter Mokaba Stadium (18:00). Sekhukhune progressed to this stage after eliminating University of Pretoria FC in the previous round and will look to make home advantage count.
Milford, however, have been in impressive form in the second tier and will arrive in Polokwane with momentum and belief as they attempt to produce another cup upset. The fixture also carries added intrigue after the two sides met in last year’s edition of the competition.
On Sunday evening, the knockout action shifts to KwaZulu-Natal where Lamontville Golden Arrows host Durban City FC in a Durban derby-style encounter at King Zwelithini Stadium (18:00).
Golden Arrows have been a consistent presence in the PSL, but Durban City have already shown they are capable of competing with top-flight opposition. With both teams overcoming difficult opponents to reach the last eight, the clash promises intensity, local pride, and the possibility of yet another cup surprise.
With underdogs and established teams all chasing a place in the semifinals, the Nedbank Cup quarterfinal stage is set to deliver another thrilling chapter in South Africa’s premier knockout competition.