PIC: Thembinkosi Lorch

Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns have set up a Nedbank Cup final at the Mbombela Stadium on June 1 (kick-off 15h00) to decide the destiny of the trophy this year. We round up the numbers on the heavyweight decider.

1 – Both Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro (2023) and Mamelodi Sundowns tactician Rulani Mokwena (2022) have a single Nedbank Cup final win to their names. Mokwena has previously won the trophy as an assistant coach and was co-coach with Manqoba Mngqithi when they were successful two years ago.

1 – This is the first Nedbank Cup final since 2008 to feature two of the so-called ‘Big 3’ in South African football, Pirates, Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs. Quite astonishingly, they have been kept separate in the decider up to now, despite appearing in 12 in 16 years collectively prior to 2024. 

3 – Pirates striker Kermit Erasmus heads the list of scorers in Nedbank Cup finals since 2008. He netted for SuperSport United as they defeated Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2012 final, and then bagged two for Orlando Pirates in their 3-1 victory over BidVest Wits in 2014. The only other players to have scored in multiple goals in finals are Jeremy Brockie (SuperSport United), Bradley Grobler (SuperSport United), Thulasizwe Mbuyane (Orlando Pirates) and Sifiso Vilakazi (BidVest Wits).

3 – No less than 10 players are currently tied top of the scorers list in the Nedbank Cup this season with three goals each. They are Shandre Campbell (SuperSport United), Andre de Jong, Anicet Oura and Devin Titus (all Stellenbosch FC), Kabelo Dlamini, Tshegofatso Mabasa, Patrick Maswanganyi and Tapelo Xoki (all Orlando Pirates), Thembinkosi Lorch and Gaston Sirino (both Mamelodi Sundowns).

5 – Pirates and Sundowns have clashed five times before in the Nedbank Cup since 2008, but never the final. The Buccaneers edge the head-to-head 3-2 with the last meeting in the quarterfinals in 2021 when Sundowns ran out 4-1 victors.

6 – Pirates and Sundowns are both appearing in a sixth Nedbank Cup final since 2008, a record they share. Pirates have won three of their previous five visits to the prestigious decider, beating Black Leopards (3-1 in 2011), BidVest Wits (3-1 in 2014) and Sekhukhune United (2-1 in 2023), but losing twice to SuperSport United (3-2 in 2016 and 4-1 in 2017). Sundowns have four wins, taking the title against Mpumalanga Black Aces (1-0 in 2008), Ajax Cape Town (4-3 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in 2015), Bloemfontein Celtic (1-0 in 2020) and Marumo Gallants (2-1 in 2022). They also lost to local rivals SuperSport United (2-0 in 2012).

5 – Thembinkosi Lorch is the joint all-time top-scorer in the Nedbank Cup for Pirates with five goals, a record he shares with Kermit Erasmus, Oupa Manyisa and Tendai Ndoro. But he could line up for Sundowns in the final this year and already has netted three times for them. Will he haunt his former side?

6 – Pirates maintained their 100% record in Nedbank Cup semifinals since 2008 with a sixth victory out of six appearances when they beat Chippa United 3-1 this year. No other team can match that consistency. 

6 – The biggest victory in this year’s Nedbank Cup so far remains the 6-0 win for Pirates over fourth-tier Crystal Lake in the Last 32. 

7 – The most goals scored ina. Nedbank Cup encounter this season is seven, which has happened on two occasions. Sundowns defeated second-tier NB La Masia 6-1 in the Last 32 and Stellenbosch FC thumped another Motsepe Foundation Championship side, Milford FC, by the same scoreline in the Last 16.  

12 – Mbombela Stadium will host the Nedbank Cup final for the second time and is one of 12 different venues to stage the decider in 17 years. Pirates beat Black Leopards 3-1 at the iconic 2010 FIFA World Cup venue in 2011.

14 – Mamelodi Sundowns forward Peter Shalulile is the all-time Nedbank Cup top-scorer with 11 goals for The Brazilians and three in the colours of Highlands Park for a total of 14. His goals have come in 17 Nedbank Cup starts. 

17 – Pirates have scored a whopping 17 goals in their four ties to date, the most of any club in this year’s competition. They beat Crystal Lake (6-0), Hungry Lions (4-0), AmaZulu (4-2) and Chippa United (3-1). They have certainly been among the teams to watch in all competitions this season with their free-flowing style.

44 – Sundowns have won the most matches in the Nedbank Cup since 2008, with 44 victories from 59 games. They have played the most number of fixtures and also scored the most number of goals (134) in the competition after the last 17 seasons.

50 – The 2024 Nedbank Cup final will be Pirates’ 50^th match in the competition since 2008. They have won 34, drawn six and lost nine of the previous 49.

89 – There have been 89 goals scored in the 30 Nedbank Cup games in 2024. That is an average of a touch under three per game.