PIC: Iqraam Rayners of Stellenbosch FC

0 – None of the coaches remaining in the 2023 Nedbank Cup have lifted the trophy before so we will have a new champion this campaign. Steve Barker (Stellenbosch FC) took University of Pretoria to the 2009 final where they lost to Moroka Swallows, while Arthur Zwane (Kaizer Chiefs) has won the South African FA Cup as a player, but not yet as a coach. Jose Riveiro (Orlando Pirates) is in his first year in South African football and already has silverware in the form of the MTN8 title. Brandon Truter (Sekhukhune United) has led various teams in the Nedbank Cup before, but this is the furthest he has got to date.  

0 – Technically, Gauteng ABC Motsepe League side Dondol Stars depart the 2023 Nedbank Cup at the quarterfinal stage unbeaten despite three ties against top DStv Premiership clubs. They lost on post-match penalties to Orlando Pirates in the Last 8, but the result of the game will be officially recorded as a draw in the history books. That means in 330 minutes of football against SuperSport United, AmaZulu and Pirates, the third-tier side were not conquered. They can be very proud of that fact.

1 – Stellenbosch FC will appear in the Nedbank Cup semifinals for the first time, with their best showing before this season being a second round exit to Kaizer Chiefs in 2018. It will also be a debut for their semifinal opponents Sekhukhune United at this stage of the competition after they bowed out in the Last 32 in their previous two appearances. One of these sides will book a maiden cup final place.  

1 – Stellenbosch FC’s 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns was the first time they have ever come from behind to win a Nedbank Cup game.

2 – There were two own goals in the quarterfinals, taking the total for this season to four. Stellenbosch FC goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt was unlucky when a shot hit the crossbar and went into the goal off his foot against Mamelodi Sundowns. Former Orlando Pirates defender Thabo Matlaba, now in the colours of Royal AM, then scored a spectacular headed own goal against Kaizer Chiefs in the KwaZulu-Natal sides’ 2-1 loss. Kamogelo Mogaswa (Pretoria Callies) and Bulelani Nikani (Polokwane City) are the others to have put the ball into their own net this season.

2 – Orlando Pirates’ win on penalties against third-tier Dondol Stars was their second in six Nedbank Cup shoot-outs since 2008, with their previous victory coming back in 2014 against Thanda Royal Zulu. That gives them a 33.3% success rate.

3 – Orlando Pirates striker Thembinkosi Lorch has now scored in each of the three rounds in this year’s Nedbank Cup, grabbing goals against All Stars (Last 32), Venda Football Academy (Last 16) and Dondol Stars (Quarterfinals). Former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Nyasha Mushekwi holds the record for scoring in the most rounds when he netted in four in the 2012 Nedbank Cup, scoring a record 10 goals in a single season in the process. That included six against hapless Powerlines FC in Sundowns’ 24-0 win. Mushekwi netted in every round bar the final, which Sundowns lost to SuperSport United. 

6 – Iqraam Rayners of Stellenbosch FC is now the leading scorer in this year’s competition with six goals, adding another brace in the 2-1 quarterfinal win over Mamelodi Sundowns. He also scored twice in the victories over Swallows FC and TS Galaxy in the previous two rounds. His seven Nedbank Cup goals in total for Stellies is a club record. He also netted for Santos and SuperSport United in the competition, so has nine goals in all, putting him among the leading marksman since 2008, though behind record-holder Peter Shalulile (14) of Sundowns.  

6 – Orlando Pirates are into the semifinals for the first time in six years, having last appeared at this stage in 2017. They have had four previous semifinal fixtures since 2008 and have won them all.

11 – Stellenbosch FC are the leading scorers in this year’s Nedbank Cup with 11 goals after victories over Swallows FC (3-0), TS Galaxy (6-3) and Mamelodi Sundowns (2-1). They have also conceded the most goals (4) of any of the semifinalists.

11 – There were 11 goals scored in the 2023 Nedbank Cup quarterfinals. The average since 2008 is 10 goals, so it is slightly above par. 

16 – Mamelodi Sundowns’ loss to Stellenbosch FC brought to an end their record 16-game unbeaten run in the Nedbank Cup. They had not tasted outright defeat since a Last 32 loss to Chippa United in 2019. It also brought to an end a 24-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

40 – Elias Mokwana’s goal for Sekhukhune United against Chippa United after 40 seconds was the fastest in this year’s Nedbank Cup, and one of the quickest ever in the competition. 

90 – The number of goals scored in this year’s Nedbank Cup at a very healthy average of 3.21 per game. That is already more than the last couple of years when there were 81 (2022) and 80 (2021) goals netted.