KwaZulu-Natal football fans are excited about the arrival of Durban City and Milford FC in the semi-final round of the Nedbank Cup as these teams are facing the challenge of ending the province’s 17-year drought of not having a team lift the cup.
It has become history that Lamontville Golden Arrows was the last team from KZN to lift the MTN8 trophy by defeating Ajax Cape Town 6-0 in the final in the 2009/10 season.
After that, the teams in this province were considered together in the finals separately until the 2022/23 season.
In the same 2009/10 season in which the Bes’thende boys lifted the MTN8 title, the Zulus reached the Nedbank final where they were defeated by Bidvest Wits 3-0.
In the 2017/18 season, Maritzburg United (aka Durban City) reached the Nedbank final and were defeated by Free State Stars 1-0.
KZN’s campaign to be considered the best in KZN continued, Usuthu was defeated by Orlando Pirates 1-0 in the MTN8 finals in the 2022/23 season.
So City and Milford this weekend are facing a big challenge to end this series as they have important and eagerly awaited semi-final matches at Nedbank.
City will face Casric Stars, at Chatsworth Stadium, Durban, today at 3 pm.
Milford will play away against TS Galaxy, at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium, KwaMhlanga, tomorrow at 3 pm.
City’s top defender and captain, Siphamandla Ncanana, admits that they did not expect to reach this round of the competition, but they have been cut down and are waiting for Casric.
“We were all surprised to reach this stage of the competition, but we worked hard so we deserve to be here. Everyone who is part of the team is proud of what we have done so far,” said Ncanana.
“This means a lot to us players, especially to many of us who have reached this stage of the competition for the first time, so we are hungry for success.
But we know that it will not be easy to face Casric Stars, who will fight in every way. But we look forward to dealing with it.”
On the other hand, the coach and chairman of Milford, Xanti Pupuma, does not hide his desire to reach the finals and face another team from KZN.
“I know that I have said before that I see Milford and Casric in the final. But in truth, deep in my heart, my desire is to see the final played by teams from KZN.”
If that happens, I have no doubt that we will fill Moses Mabhida (Stadium) and show people that it should not be Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates or Mamelodi Sundowns who should fill the stadiums.”
Nedbank Cup semi-finals:
Today – At 3pm:
Durban City v Casric Stars (Chatsworth Stadium)
Tomorrow – At 3pm:
TS Galaxy v Milford FC (Solomon Mahlangu Stadium)