Fort Hare are one game away from playing in the main draw of the Nedbank Cup – the most coveted trophy in South African knockout football.
Coach Mongile Nyosana and his band of men have the chance to make history on Saturday when they take on ABC Mostsepe League side Mighty Eagles at Alice’s Davidson Stadium to establish who will enter the last 32.
“The guys realise how big this is,” Nyosana said.
“As amateur footballers, it our dream to play for trophies at professional level.”
UFH have made a remarkable comeback this season after a disappointing Varsity Football campaign in 2023, their first appearance in the elite student competition in five years.
Their terrific run in the Nedbank regional qualifiers was extended at the provincial playoffs in Jeffreys Bay, where they knocked off WSU (3-0), Bizana Pondo Chiefs (1-0) and Major Chiefs (4-2 on penalties) to set up this weekend’s do-or-die clash with the Mthatha-based Eagles.
Both Fort Hare’s strike force and defenders were formidable on that occasion, with the likes of Alizwa Maseti, Lihle Zazobe and Athenkosi Masiza in red-hot form in front of goal.
Goalkeeper Lihle Vathu was also sensational in the crucial shootout.
Fort Hare’s Alizwa Maseti will look to carry his scintillating form into the Nedbank Cup last-32 decider against Mighty Eagles in Alice on Saturday. Photo: Full Stop Communications
The final field of the Nedbank Cup comprises 16 Premier League, eight national First Division and eight SA Football Association regional league teams.
After winning the provincials, Fort Hare had to endure a lengthy wait to see which ABC Motsepe League side they would play to qualify for the prestigious main draw.
There was some controversy over who Matta Milan would come up against in the final of their Nedbank qualification stream.
Despite Mighty Eagles crushing Gqeberha City 3-0, the Nelson Mandela Bay outfit argued that their opponents had not met regional football requirements in fielding the specified number of U21 players.
The ruling went against City, paving the way for Eagles to face Matta Milan on Wednesday, which saw the former winning a thriller on penalties.
With the sides deadlocked at 3-3 at full time, the match went to a shootout which Eagles won 5-3.
Nyosana is pleased with the outcome as the Mthatha team were his preferred opponents.
His reasoning is that they were only promoted to the Motsepe League a season ago, whereas Milan have been a constant in South African football’s second division.
The delay had also worked in UFH’s favour, he said, as it allowed the return of three of their star players who had been unavailable for the provincials due to exams.
The extra few weeks’ wait enabled them to focus on their academics and they are now free to play their part in the history-defining clash in front of their home supporters.
Kick-off is at 1pm.