PIC: Lamontville Golden Arrows’ Manqoba Mngqithi is the only coach remaining in the 2026 Nedbank Cup to have lifted the trophy before

The eight remaining coaches in the 2026 Nedbank Cup quarter-finals have varied histories in the competition, but all share the same goal: to lift the trophy in the final on May 2.
Here is a quick look at their past in South Africa’s most prestigious knockout competition.

ADNAN BEGANOVIĆ – TS GALAXY
Beganović took over the reins at TS Galaxy in November 2024 when Sead Ramovic departed the club, moving up from his role as assistant coach.
He has been a stabilising influence at the team and has earned a reputation as a tactical coach and good man-manager to whom the players respond.
A citizen of Bosnia-Herzegovina, he holds a UEFA Pro Licence, the highest qualification attainable, and is in his second Nedbank Cup campaign.
In 2025 his side went out to then second-tier Durban City on penalties, but this time he has masterminded a win over Mamelodi Sundowns in the Last 16 and has been rewarded with a home quarter-final against third-tier Jacksa Spears.
His side will be huge favourites to make the semi-finals.

PITSO DLADLA – DURBAN CITY
Dladla is in interim charge at Durban City after upheaval in the coaching dugout this season, but has done well to steer the side up the league table and into the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals.
He was previously in charge of Uthongathi and Richards Bay but had never gone beyond the second round of the Nedbank Cup before this season.
He will know that a good cup run will only add to his chances of getting the role on a permanent basis.

MANQOBA MNGQITHI – LAMONTVILLE GOLDEN ARROWS
The only tactician in the quarter-finals who has lifted the Nedbank Cup before, Mngqithi was co-coach of Mamelodi Sundowns with Rulani Mokwena when they beat Marumo Gallants 2-1 in the 2022 final.
He is vastly experienced in the domestic game and is now back where it all started for him at Golden Arrows, whom he led to the 2009 MTN8 title with a 6-0 win over Ajax Cape Town in the final.
That remains the biggest margin of victory in any knockout final in South African football history.
Mngqithi spent 11 years at Sundowns as assistant to Pitso Mosimane and later had two spells as head coach, one jointly with Mokwena. He also won back-to-back league titles in 2020/21 and 2021/22.

TEBOGO MOTSAMAI – JACKSA SPEARS
The least known of the eight coaches remaining in the Nedbank Cup and the only one yet to lead a team at professional level.
Motsamai cut his teeth in the Varsity Cup, leading the University of the Free State team.
He has guided Spears to victories over fellow third-tier sides FC Cardinals and CR Vasco da Gama in the 2026 Nedbank Cup so far, but faces a huge step up when they travel to 2019 winners TS Galaxy in the quarter-finals.
If he can secure a win there, he will cement his name in Nedbank Cup history.

JOSEPH ‘BUCS’ MTHOMBENI – CASRIC STARS
The charismatic Mthombeni is both owner and coach of Casric Stars and, after plotting the downfall of Orlando Pirates in the last round, now takes aim at AmaZulu in the quarter-finals.
Mthombeni, 52, hails from Siyabuswa, Mpumalanga, and is a successful businessman whose dream of becoming a footballer was cut short when he was forced into work following the death of his father, becoming the family breadwinner.
He has masterminded Stars’ rise through the divisions from the ABC Motsepe League to the Motsepe Foundation Championship and to the brink of promotion to the top flight.

XANTI PUPUMA – MILFORD FC
Pupuma is another owner-coach and has his side top of the Motsepe Foundation Championship as they seek promotion to the top tier this season.
He has had various spells in charge, stepping in when other coaches have left the position, but is a medical doctor by trade with a practice in obstetrics and gynaecology in Richards Bay.
His passion for football is well known and he has led the side to some memorable wins, which he will hope to repeat when they travel to Sekhukhune United in this year’s quarter-finals.

ERIC TINKLER – SEKHUKHUNE UNITED
Tinkler is one of the most experienced coaches in the PSL and has a reputation as a tactician, always laying out meticulous plans for his side against any opponent.
After a highly successful playing career in England, Portugal and Italy, he turned to coaching, spending many years as an assistant at Bidvest Wits and Orlando Pirates.
He took the helm at Pirates in the 2014/15 season and led them to the 2016 Nedbank Cup final, where they lost 3-2 to SuperSport United in a thriller in Polokwane.
That remains the only time he has gone past the second round, so he is in uncharted waters as Sekhukhune host Milford in the last eight.

ARTHUR ZWANE – AMAZULU
Zwane is a former winger, most notably with Kaizer Chiefs, where he spent a decade as a player and was later head coach. He also played for their Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates and Jomo Cosmos in a varied career.
Zwane was appointed AmaZulu coach in 2024 and has enjoyed a successful spell, keeping them near the top of the league and guiding them into a Nedbank Cup quarter-final.
He took Chiefs to the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup in 2023, where they narrowly lost 2-1 to Pirates, and will be hoping to go one better this time.