Motsepe Foundation Championship teams Casric Stars and Milford FC forced their way into the semifinals of the illustrious Nedbank Cup over the past weekend with victories over Betway Premiership opponents to ensure that 50 percent of the final four come from the lower league for only the third time in the history of the new era PSL and the second time in 29 years that two NFD teams will contest the semi-finals.
Casric beat Amazulu 2 – 1 AET in Durban, while Milford FC got the better of Sekhukhune United 2 – 2 (3 – 2 Pen) in Polokwane. Both matches were played on Saturday.
Mpumalanga Black Aces were the first ever NFD team to play in the final of the Nedbank Cup when they lost 0 – 1 to Mamelodi Sundowns in 2008. Aces beat GaRankuwa United, Thanda Royal Zulu, FC AK, Nathi Lions and Free State Stars on their way to final, while Sundowns saw off Supersport United, Kaizer Chiefs (on penalties), FC Cape Town AET and Amazulu.
In 2009, Black Leopards and Tuks who participated in the Inland Stream of the NFD, progressed to the semifinals of the second ever Nedbank Cup. Leopards lost 1 – 2 to Moroka Swallows, while Tuks beat Ajax CT by the same margin with the winning goal coming in extra time.
Swallows beat Tuks 1 – 0 in the final with Vinicius da Silva scoring the winner.
Two seasons later it was a mega Nedbank Cup for ABC Motsepe League side Baroka FC who beat Mighty Mega Force 2 – 0 in Round 1, Moroka Swallows 2 – 1 in the Round of 16 and Kaizer Chiefs 2 – 1 in the quarterfinals, before losing 2 – 2 (2 – 1 Pen) to Black Leopards in the Semi-finals. Leopards who were playing the NFD at the time, beat FC Cape Town 4 – 1 in the Preliminary Round, beat Thanda Royal Zulu 2 – 1 in Round One, BTX Liverpool 3 – 1 in the Round of 16, Vasco da Gama3 – 2 AET in the quarterfinals, Baroka in the Semi-finals before losing 1 – 3 to Orlando Pirates in the final.
TS Galaxy made Nedbank Cup history when they became the only ever lower league side to win the coveted Cup of Dreams when they beat giants Kaizer Chiefs 1 – 0 in Durban. Zak Lepasa getting the all-important goal for the Rockets.
The Mpumalanga based NFD team had to negotiate past Ajax Cape Town, Umvoti FC, Jomo Cosmos, Cape Umoya and Golden Arrows to meet the Gauteng Glamour Boys.
Chiefs themselves overcame Tornado FC, The Magic, CT City, and Chippa United on their way to the final.
TS Galaxy are the last team from the lower leagues to play in the final of the Nedbank Cup