PIC: Augustine Mulenga of AmaZulu FC (left) and Akhona Ngedle of Mighty Eagles during the 2025 Nedbank Cup Last 32 draw

The beauty of the Nedbank Cup if that it provides an often once-in-a-lifetime chance for amateur players to rub shoulders with the country’s elite … and dream of writing their names into the history books.
That is certainly the case for Eastern Cape ABC Motsepe League side Mighty Eagles, who will debut in the Nedbank Cup Last 32 with a trip to topflight AmaZulu.

Some may be daunted, but for the ambitious club from Mthatha there is nothing but excitement as they prepare to take on a team steeped in history and among the form sides in the Premier Soccer League.
“Before the draw, the players were saying they wanted to face a PSL team because they wanted to test themselves against the best in the country. They got that and they were very happy,” Mighty Eagles coach Sibusiso Mapompo said.

“I thought they would be nervous or scared but they are excited and eager to compete. That’s all you need as a coach, motivated players and tactics that are followed. All you need is the right mentality in the camp to proceed in the competition.

“It won’t be an easy task; there is a lot of planning involved.”
Mapompo is no stranger to the Nedbank Cup. He led FC Ravens from Bizana to the Last 32 in 2024, where they edged fellow third-tier side Spain FC on penalties, before taking topflight Chippa United to extra-time and losing 2-1.
The 42-year-old will have learnt much from that experience and while he is at a new club, is eager to have another go at a team from the elite league.

“Last year, when I was with Ravens we played against a team from the ABC Motsepe League in the round of 32. It was kind of easy because they were at our level,” he said.

“Now we will open against a PSL team which is one of the oldest teams in the league with a lot of history. But we have seen small teams take out big teams in the competition. And with the attitude the players have, we are capable as well.”

Mapompo is also looking forward to using his full squad without restriction.

“In ABC Motsepe League there are a lot of age restriction rules and in the Nedbank Cup, there are none,” he said. “We will have to assess our senior and experienced players and see which youngsters are ready for that game.

“Overall, we won’t change how we play because we are playing against a big team.” 
AmaZulu hold the unenviable record of having appeared in six Nedbank Cup competition finals in the past and won none.

They have also fallen foul of lower league teams in the last. That includes defeats against third-tier opponents Tembu Royals in 2013 and Dondol Stars in 2023.

The exact dates, venues and kick-off times for the Nedbank Cup Last 32 will be announced by the PSL in due course.