Tuks, Baroka & Galaxy: Most Memorable Lower…

University of Pretoria went all the way to the Nedbank Cup final in 2009.

After Casric Stars and Milford FC booked their spots in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals, Soccer Laduma looks back at some of the most memorable runs in this competition by lower division clubs.

Casric have registered two away wins beyond regulation time against Orlando Pirates and AmaZulu FC in this competition and need just one more match against a topflight club to match University of Pretoria’s record of beating three Premiership teams in one campaign.

Milford, meanwhile, stunned Sekhukhune United over the weekend in their first match against a topflight club in this edition. While both sides waiting to see who they will face in the semis, Soccer Laduma looks back at lower division clubs who had standout Nedbank Cup campaigns.

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2008: Mpumalanga Black Aces

With Nedbank as the new sponsor, Aces were the first club from the National First Division to reach the final of the competition. Aces beat the likes of Thanda Royal Zulu, FC AK, Nathi Lions and Free State Stars. They were stopped in the final by Mamelodi Sundowns, who got a late goal through Lerato Chabangu.

2009: University of Pretoria

One of the most memorable cup runs by a lower division club was that of AmaTuks in 2009, when they had Steve Barker leading the ship. The squad featured the likes of Andile Jali, Mthokozisi Yende, Phenyo Mongala and Thabang Monare, as they went all the way to the final where they lost to Julio Leal’s Moroka Swallows side. On their way to the final, AmaTuks beat three topflight clubs in Kaizer Chiefs, Bloemfontein Celtic and Ajax Cape Town. They fell at the final hurdle at Rand Stadium against the Dube Birds, who won the match 1-0.

2011: Baroka FC

To this day, Baroka are remembered for their heroics in 2011, as well as their coach Sello Chokoe, who famously wore the black glove on one hand. At the time, Baroka were playing in the Vodacom League (now ABC Motsepe League) and their first big victim was Swallows in the Last 16, as they edged the Dube Birds 2-1. In the quarterfinals, they came up against Vladimir Vermezovic’s Chiefs side and they pulled off one of the biggest upsets the competition has ever seen. Thobani Mncwango rifled home a stoppage time winner to lead the Limpopo outfit to a 2-1 victory at Peter Mokaba Stadium.The club got knocked out by First Division side Black Leopards in the semi-finals.

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2019: TS Galaxy

The Rockets remain the only lower division club to win the Nedbank Cup. Galaxy had lower division opponents until coming up against Golden Arrows in the semis, beating the KZN outfit 3-1 away from home. The final is one that will live long in the memory for many South African football followers. They stunned Soweto giants Chiefs in the final, thanks to a late penalty converted by Zakhele Lepasa.

2023: Dondol Stars

The ABC Motsepe League club was trending on social media for first knocking SuperSport United out in the Last 32 and then upsetting AmaZulu FC in a penalty shootout in the Last 16. They took Pirates all the way to penalties in the quarterfinals and narrowly lost out 5-4. They certainly made their mark that year.

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