8 March 2011
South Africas Nedbank Cup, the equivalent of the FA Cup in England, stages its Last 32 round this week and there are no less than six all-top flight ties, which should allow for minnows from the lower league to progress into the latter stages of the tournament.
The pick of the games is undoubtedly the meeting of Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday night. Both sides are very much in the race to win the league championship and they played out a thrilling league game in Soweto last month that was won 2-1 by the Buccaneers.
The three MTN-sponsored top flight sides have all been paired with fellow Premier League clubs. Lamontville Golden Arrows are away to outgoing league champions SuperSport United on Wednesday night, hoping to break a lengthy winless streak which has seen them slip down the league standings in recent weeks.
Ajax Cape Town have a tough test away to Free State Stars, though they beat them 1-0 in a recent league game and should take a psychological advantage into the tie, while Bloemfontein Celtic will be favourites in their home game against Platinum Stars at the fortress that is Seisa Ramabodu Stadium.
One of the match-ups that brings with it the potential for a huge upset is AmaZulu hosting Real Madrid on Wednesday. The away team may be named after perhaps the most famous football club in the world, but they are very much an amateur outfit, and it would therefore be a major surprise if they were to take out Usuthu.
The weekends action begins with an all-PSL tie between Maritzburg United and Moroka Swallows on Friday evening that should be punctuated by the tension both sides are feeling as they look to avoid the prospect of relegation on the league front.
Another top flight clash sees Bidvest Wits, the Nedbank Cups defending champions, host Santos on Sunday, while at the same time giants Kaizer Chiefs have a tough away game against First Division side Nathi Lions. Chiefs have been knocked out of the Cup by First Division sides in the past two years and they will be looking to avoid a hat-trick of embarrassments.
Nedbank Cup Last 32 fixtures:
Wednesday, March 09
Baroka FC v Mighty Mega Force
Black Leopards v Thanda Royal Zulu
SuperSport United v Golden Arrows
AmaZulu v Real Madrid
Friday, March 11
Maritzburg United v Moroka Swallows
Saturday, March 12
MP Black Aces v Hanover Park
Amajuba Killers United v Vasco da Gama
Free State Stars v Ajax Cape Town
BTX Liverpool v Blackburn Rovers
Bloemfontein Celtic v Platinum Stars
Orlando Pirates v Mamelodi Sundowns
Sunday, March 13
United FC v Future Tigers FC
Witbank Spurs v Chippa United
Bidvest Wits v Santos
Carara Kicks v Cullinan FC
Nathi Lions v Kaizer Chiefs
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