PIC: Tashreeq Morris with the match ball after his hattrick in 2021

There have been 16 hattricks scored in the 16 years of the Nedbank Cup, but only one in the previous six seasons as the elusive treble remains mostly out of the reach of players.
That single success since 2017 came when Tashreeq Morris netted a hattrick for Cape Town City against Bloemfontein Celtic in the Last 32 of the Nedbank Cup in 2021.

He has since moved on to Sekhukhune United and could feature in this year’s Last 16 against Cape Town Spurs having netted in the last round versus Liver Brothers.

Morris’ effort was only the third time that a Nedbank Cup hattrick has been scored against a topflight club, with Black Leopards on the receiving end on both other occasions.
AmaZulu’s Mpho Maleka scored a treble against them in 2008 and Kaizer Chiefs’ Lehlohonolo Majoro netted four in 2012. 
The most famous hattricks came as Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Powerlines FC 24-0 in 2012, and in doing so saw Hlompho Kekana (seven goals) and Nyasha Mushekwi (six) both score ‘double hattricks’ in an incredible fixture. The late Richard Henyekane also got in on the act with five goals.

Kekana’s haul remains the most goals ever scored in a single Nedbank Cup match by a player, while his career total of 11 makes him the leading scorer in the competition since 2008.

Dumisani Ngwenya (five) was also among the goals as AmaZulu thumped Young Ones 14-0 in 2008, while Ayanda Dlamini scored three against Real Madrid in 2011.

The only hat-trick of Musa Nyatama’s career came when he netted three against University of Stellenbosch in 2014. 

There were two hattricks scored in 2016 as Bongi Jayiya netted for Mpumalanga Black Aces against lower league United Rovers, and Daine Klate scored four goals as BidVest Wits brushed aside Magesi FC 6-0.

AmaZulu have managed the most Nedbank Cup hat-tricks since 2008 with four, followed by Sundowns (three), Free State Stars, Kaizer Chiefs (two each), Black Leopards, Celtic, Wits, Black Aces and Cape Town City (one each). 

NEDBANK CUP HATTRICKS BY YEAR

2022

None

2021

Tashreeq Morris – Cape Town City vs Bloemfontein Celtic

2020

None

2019

None

2018

None

2017

None

2016

Bongolethu Jayiya – Mpumalanga Black Aces v United Rovers

Dane Klate (four goals) – BidVest Wits v Magesi FC

2015

Siphelele Mthembu – Kaizer Chiefs v Edu Sports

2014

Musa Nyatama – Bloemfontein Celtic v University of Stellenbosch

2013

Brian Amidu (four goals) – Black Leopards v Cape Town All Stars

2012

Hlompho Kekana (seven goals) – Mamelodi Sundowns v Powerlines FC

Nyasha Mushekwi (six goals) – Mamelodi Sundowns v Powerlines FC

Richard Henyekane (five goals) – Mamelodi Sundowns v Powerlines FC

Lehlohonolo Majoro (four goals) – Kaizer Chiefs v Black Leopards

2011

Ayanda Dlamini – AmaZulu v Real Madrid

2010

Sthembiso Ngcobo – Free State Stars v Tower United

2009

None

2008

Collins Chabalala – Free State Stars v Ikapa Sporting

Mpho Maleka – AmaZulu v Black Leopards

Siyabonga Mkhwanazi – AmaZulu v Young Ones

Dumisani Ngwenya (five goals) – AmaZulu v Young Ones