PIC:  Mdu Shabalala (left) of Kaizer Chiefs

The Nedbank Cup has always been a competition where new stars are born and older players rekindle their careers, providing a platform to showcase their quality for young and old.
This year will be no different as players from all levels of the South African football pyramid aim to underline their ability and win the most prestigious knockout trophy in the local game.
Here are 10 players to keep an eye on for various reasons as the 2025 Nedbank Cup gets under way on Friday.

FAWAAZ BASADIEN (STELLENBOSCH FC)

The most sought-after left-back in the country, Basadien is admired for his ability to create chances from the full-back position, his great vison and set-piece excellence. Stellenbosch FC have done well to hold onto him, but he is so influential in their play down the left flank that to lose him would be a disaster. He has helped Stellies to back-to-back semifinals in the previous two years and will be desperate to go one better this time round. 

DARWIN GONZALEZ (CAPE TOWN CITY)
The Venezuelan winger has become a key man at Cape Town City following ther departure of Khanyisa Mayo and has stepped up with some crucial goals, not least winners against both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in a matter of days earlier this month. He probably should score more too given his obvious quality, and can be a boost to a City side that has underwhelmed in the Nedbank Cup in the past, having never made it beyond the quarterfinals. He is in his fourth season at City but only ever played one Nedbank Cup game. Surely that will change in 2025. 

JOSLIN KAMATUKA (DURBAN CITY)
A familiar name who has been brilliant for Durban City (formerly Maritzburg United) in the past season and a half since he joined the club. The Namibia international has 19 goals in that time, including eight in 14 starts this season to help City to the top of the Motsepe Foundation Championship and on course for promotion. He has yet to score in the Nedbank Cup, though to be fair he has only made three starts down the years despite arriving in South African football in 2018.   

MUZOMUHLE KHANYI (HUNGRY LIONS)

Khanyi is the leading scorer in the Motsepe Foundation Championship with 11 goals in 10 starts (16 appearances in all) for Hungry Lions this season. That is exactly half his side’s goals in the league. He also netted in the Nedbank Cup preliminary round win away at University of Pretoria to continue hos red-hot form. The 25-year-old was previously with Cape United and Platinum City Rovers but joined Lions in 2022 and has been a stalwart for them ever since. He is the obvious dangerman.

WONDERBOY MAKHUBU (MAGESI FC)
Magesi may be battling in the topflight this season, but Makhubu has put in several eye-catching displays and has scored three of their five goals in the league. He has done the rounds of the Limpopo clubs, also playing for Marumo Gallants, Baroka FC and Sekhukhune United, and has five goals in six starts in the Nedbank Cup down the years. If anyone can take Magesi on a cup run, it is the 28-year-old forward.

DAVID MOTHIPI (BAROKA FC)
Mothipi is a new name on the local football scene having joined the Baroka FC first team this season. Nicknamed ‘sniper’ for his prowess in the box, he has five goals in 11 starts having immediately announced himself as a dangerman for Baroka. He will be hoping to use the Nedbank Cup to further his reputation, as so many players have down the years.

THALENTE MBATHA (ORLANDO PIRATES)
The Orlando Pirates midfielder has taken his game to another level in the past 12 months having been little used at SuperSport United, but then a key anchor of the current Bucaneers outfit. His industry in midfield and ability to score long-range goals have seen him become a key asset for club and country. You feel this is just the beginning for the 24-year-old. He will hope to score his first domestic cup goal in this year’s Nedbank Cup.

IQRAAM RAYNERS (MAMELODI SUNDOWNS)
One of the top strikers in the South African game, Rayners loves a Nedbank Cup tie and has 10 goals in 15 starts in the competition down the years, including winning the Golden Boot in 2023 when he netted six times for Stellenbosch FC. He has since moved to Mamelodi Sundowns and will be chasing new teammate Peter Shalulile’s all-time Nedbank Cup record of 14 goals. 

MDU SHABALALA (KAIZER CHIEFS)
Shabalala has been one of Chiefs’ stand-out performers this season and along with Wandile Duba is the join leading scorer for the side in the league with four goals. He has yet to break his duck in the Nedbank Cup, but who would bet against him this year? He is only 21 but is already in his fourth season in the first team so has experience beyond his years.

MKHANYISELI SIWAHLA (LERUMO LIONS)

Veteran winger Siwahla is the player-coach at North West ABC Motsepe League side Lerumo Lions, having initially retired from football in 2019 but resurrected his career on the pitch. Whether he plays in the Nedbank Cup remains to be seen, but if he does it will be a great story. Siwahla still holds the record as the youngest player and goalscorer in the South African topflight when he turned out for Ajax Cape Town aged 15 years and 174 days in 2004.