EC Bees host Pirates, Chiefs to face Stellenbosch FC in Nedbank Cup Last 32
Kaizer Chiefs will travel to National First Division side Stellenbosch FC in the Last 32 of the Nedbank Cup, while Orlando Pirates are away at Bisho-based EC Bees after the draw was made on Thursday.
Mamelodi Sundowns will host Limpopo minnows Mariveni United, a fourth tier side which will provide memories of their 24-0 thrashing of SAB League side Powerlines FC five years ago.
Defending champions SuperSport United have a difficult start to the defence of their title when they travel to ambitious NFD side Royal Eagles, while there is also a KwaZulu-Natal derby between Lamontville Golden Arrows and Maritzburg United.
Chiefs have yet to win a trophy under coach Steve Komphela and head to the Cape winelands for the start of their Nedbank Cup campaign this year.
Stellenbosch are coached by Sammy Troughton and Steve Barker, the latter having steered University of Pretoria to the final in 2009 while still an NFD outfit where they lost to Moroka Swallows.
Mariveni United won a disputed with Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC to earn their place in the Last 32 and their reward is a meeting with African Champions Sundowns.
It will be an exercise in damage limitation and from a Sundowns point of view, a chance for coach Pitso Mosimane to give some of his top stars a rest in what is a congested fixture programme.
EC Bees’ Bisho home does not have adequate facilities to host Premier Soccer League matches so their game will likely be moved to East London or Port Elizabeth. They made the Last 32 in 2016 but were beaten 2-1 by Magesi FC.
Pirates will not want to take them lightly having been beaten 4-1 by third-tier Maluti FET College in 2013.
BidVest Wits have a tricky away day at Cape Town All Stars, while there is an all-PSL battle between Free State Stars and Highlands Park.
Polokwane City will host Gauteng ABC Motsepe League side African All Stars for the second year running having beaten them 2-0 in 2016, while Telkom Knockout winners Cape Town City travel to third-tier Acornbush FC from Kabokweni near Nelspruit.
Blomfontein Celtic go to third-tier Buya Msuthu, who are coached by former Pirates assistant Teboho Moloi, who will certainly have a plan do beat Phunya Sele Sele.
Another David vs Goliath clash sees 2015 finalists Ajax Cape Town travel to the KwaZulu-Natal coast to meet KwaDukuza United.
The Last 32 matches will be played in the week of March 8-14, with the exact dates, venues and kick-off times to be announced by the PSL in due course.
Nedbank Cup Last 32 draw
Platinum Stars vs AmaZulu
EC Bees vs Orlando Pirates
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Mariveni United
FC Cape Town vs Baroka FC
Free State Stars vs Highlands Park
Cape Town All Stars vs BidVest Wits
Chippa United vs Witbank Spurs
Buya Msuthu vs Bloemfontein Celtic
Lamontville Golden Arrows vs Maritzburg United
Polokwane City vs African All Stars
Royal Eagles vs SuperSport United
Jomo Cosmos vs United Rovers FC
Stellenbosch FC vs Kaizer Chiefs
Acornbush FC vs Cape Town City
KwaDukuza United vs Ajax Cape Town
Days FC vs Mbombela United