This was prompted by the fact that big clubs avoided each other in round 32 that kicks-off January 23.
Defending champions Free State Stars have been paired with lesser known Richards Bay, a humdinger in waiting.
The Nedbank Cup is South Africa’s oldest and one of the most prestigious knockout competition, but away from the pitch, it also offers ordinary fans the opportunity to live their dreams through several life-changing initiatives.
At the launch held at the company’s head offices in Sandton on Thursday evening, also revealed popular 2019 Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search, that is spearheaded by former Bafana coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba.
With the exception of troubled Mike “Sporo” Mangena, its unclear if Highlands Park coach Owen “Rubberdoll” Da Gama will be part of the scout team? They face AmaZulu in the last 32 fixture.
“We have become synonymous with supporting the passion of fans and engaging our clients through football thus positively impacting the lives of many South Africans. This runs deep in the fabric of our organisation, which is to use our financial expertise for the benefit of a much larger societal goal,” says Khensani Nobanda, Group Executive for Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Nedbank.
“The football tournament provides amateur players with the opportunity write their names into South African football folklore, just as Baroka FC did in 2011. While the Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search is about giving aspiring footballers the stage they need to prove their talent, an opportunity they might not otherwise get.
And through our partnership with the Sports Trust, we are putting in place facilities that make a tangible difference to the lives of young people by giving them the tools they need to develop their skills, be it in soccer, tennis or basketball. It is an investment in the talent of tomorrow,” concludes Nobanda.
The minister of sport Thokozile Xasa was also present.
The Last 32 fixtures will be played from January 23-29, with the PSL to announce dates, venues and kick-off times.
The Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search is open to non-professional male footballers aged 18-23 who have a South African ID number and are Nedbank account holders.
Entries open on 13 December 2018. To enter, hopefuls must dial *120*539662# (*120*KEYONA#) on their mobile phone and follow the prompts.
Nedbank Cup Fixture
Cape Town City vs SuperSport United
Umvoti FC vs TS Galaxy
BidVest Wits vs Boyne Tigers
Chippa United vs Mamelodi Sundowns
AmaZulu vs Highlands Park
Tjakastad Junior Shepard vs Lamontville Golden Arrows
Baroka FC vs Jomo Cosmos
Maccabi FC vs The Magic FC
Witbank Spurs vs Maritzburg United
Free State Stars vs Richards Bay
Super Eagles vs Bloemfontein Celtic
Polokwane City vs Tshakhuma
Black Leopards vs Orlando Pirates
Cape Umoya United vs Tshwane University of Technology
Mbombela United vs NC Pros
Tornado FC vs Kaizer Chiefs
