The Nedbank Cup, Yona Ke Yona, is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s most historic football tournaments. Not only because of its rich history and the fact that it has given many a legend a start in the game. Not only because a team from the lower leagues can rise and win a whopping R7 million. And not only because it is one of the oldest and long-running tournaments to give a platform to SA’s football talent since its inception in 1971 as the Life Challenge Cup, Benson & Hedges Cup, Mainstay Cup, BobSave Super Bowl, ABSA Cup and finally to the now known Nedbank Cup.
Nope.
The reason why this cup competition has such a fond place in our hearts is because it is the platform for the classic tale of David versus Goliath. Where giants have met their fate at the feet of the minnows. It is the unpredictability, the beauty of what a football match is and can be.
Another fun fact about this historic tournament is that the winner automatically books themselves a spot in the illustrious CAF Confederation Cup League.
So, who wouldn’t want to win it? It’s big bucks, with a big history and can change a team’s and player’s life.
Ayeye it was West Coast vs East Coast for the first round
Cape Town City FC took on Royal AM in the round of 32 in the 2023 edition of the Nedbank Ke Yona Cup.
Cape Town FC arrived with a reputation for resilience while Royal AM FC arrived with a new/old coach in John Maduka, who made a return to the team he had left a few months ago.
It was the second successive year that these two clubs met in the first round of this tournament with Royal AM edging that previous game 2-1.
On paper this fixture looked very enticing, as these two clubs were in the top 3 of the PSL last season. Put on your makarapa, blow your vuvuzela and immerse yourself in the game as we give you the pass-by-pass, combo-by-combo moves and the halagashas. After all, it’s our thing, our football – our diski.
Yes, the going has been a bit tough for both teams this season, with both clubs suffering from a lack of consistency. Be that as it may, they both have undeniably talented sets of players, and we were sure to be blessed with a wonderful spectacle.
The line ups take the field
The stage was set. Eric Tinkler’s Citizens vs John Maduka’s Royals. Who was going to come out on top? A knockout competition is just that, a knockout KO!
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Referee: Michal Moreseng
Starting XI Cape Town City FC: Mpandle, Mkhize, Lakay, Fielies, Cupido, Mokhuane, Ambina, Mdantsane, Darwin, Rhodes, Zapata.
Starting XI Royal AM FC: Nyame, Dube, Sikakane, Matlaba, Manganyi, Kobedi, Mahlasela , Pelembe, Mogaila, Potsane , Sera.
A frustrating game full of ohs and eishs!
The stage was set, and a winner would be decided on the day no matter what, nomakanjanai. We saw two focused teams who were hungry to impress their fans and management. The action started slowly until the 20th minute when Royal Am pounced on a mistake that The Citizens, Cape Town City’s, defence made and Thabo Matlaba found himself in space, but Thami Mkhize swooped in with a magnificent sliding tackle to deny the former Orlando Pirates player the opening goal.
Both teams tried feeling each other tactically without giving away their game plan too early. Royal AM played their usual style of trying to build from the back. After managing to string together one or two decent passages of play, Sera had a beautiful opportunity to shoot at goal with only the width of the woodwork denying him. So close yet so far, no cigar for the ever-industrious striker.
Cape Town City woke up a bit and got into the game and, around the 30th minute through their ever-green Number 10, Mdantsane, they came close – but the forward sliced his shot, and the ball went well wide. The first half ended 0-0 with the second promising to be more fluid with both teams smelling blood.
Upon the resumption of the game in the second half, Royal AM got the first opportunity through a corner kick that was whipped into the back post. The delicious cross met the foot of a surprised Kobedi. His shot brought out a reflex save from the ever-reliable Mpandle.
The Citizens had 23 shots on goal and only 3 were on target. This was a testament to how we need to focus on finishing in Mzansi football, maybe it’s time teams also got striker coaches just like Man United has done with Benni McCarthy. Our strikers need to remain cool in the box and not see the headlines before they even bury the ball in the net.
Royal AM also had its fair share of chances. It seems like both teams had forgotten their shooting boots at home.
Traditionally there are a lot of goals in this game, but this time around it was not to be. The game ebbed and flowed between the two sides. Neither of them took their opportunities.
Wasted opportunities, extra time, and the dreaded penalty shootout
The rest of the half was uneventful and uninspiring, and the tie finished as a stalemate. An additional 30 minutes would be needed to see if either one of these teams would find the winning goal. Extra time is not a walk in the park and it showed as the tempo of the game slowed down with both teams struggling.
Extra time came to an end, and it went down to the lottery of the dreaded penalty shootout. The most drama in this game ensued during this penalty shootout as Nyame, the Royal goalkeeper, came to the fore and stopped Lorenzo Gordinho and Mayo’s penalty kicks, resulting in his team winning 4-3. Nyame held his nerve and secured the win for MaMkhize’s boys.
The Nedbank Cup has become more challenging over the years. Teams have become more tactical in their game approach. A free-flowing game is not what football neutrals should expect in their clashes. It is about patience and picking the right side of the posts in the penalty shoot-out. Thwihli Thwahla managed to secure their spot into the last 16, all thanks to the reliable hands of their number one, Hugo Nyame.
As expected, the victory sparked passionate celebrations from the Royal AM faithful and their proud owner Shauwn Mkhize. With much excitement, she went onto the pitch to congratulate the boys by showing them love and appreciation. We’re just happy to see her not handing out cash bonuses on the field as was well-documented not so long ago.
She’s truly acclimatised and grown accustomed to the league. Halala to the boys from the East Coast Kwa Zulu Natal, they came, they saw, and they went Thwihli Thwahla and bagged yet another win against The Citizens.
Can they go all the way and lift the Nedbank Cup and make history?