The preliminary qualifying rounds for the Nedbank Cup round of 32 are set to kick off this weekend across five regional clusters in the Eastern Cape. The clusters will be located in Gqeberha, Dikeni, Bizana, Mthatha, and Komani. A total of five group winners will advance to the quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and an ultimate ABC Motsepe playoff final. The final winner will then compete against the provincial Regional League champions to secure the Eastern Cape's third tournament berth, alongside PSL clubs.
The qualification pathway to the 2027 Nedbank Cup round of 32 for Eastern Cape ABC Motsepe League teams will feature various teams from different regions. These regions include OR Tambo, Chris Hani, Nelson Mandela, Alfred Nzo, Amathole, and Buffalo City. In the Nelson Mandela Bay group, teams such as Sundays River, Valley Academy, Old Grey, GQ Cavaliers FC, and Gqeberha United will compete at the SAPS Main Field in Gqeberha.
Other groups have also been formed, with the University of Fort Hare, Buffalo City Relatives, Makana Rhini United, and Prides AFC competing in the Dikeni group at the Fort Hare Campus. In Alfred Nzo, Sinenkani, Matatiele CitBizana Pondo City, and Ravens will face each other at the Mphuthumi Mafumbatha Stadium in Bizana. The OR Tambo group will feature Bush Bucks United, Amaxesibe, and Matta Milan competing in Mthatha.
The Chris Hani group will consist of Seven Stars, Komani United, Camdeboo Academy Football Development, and Amavarara, all competing in Komani. Notably, only three participating sides - Amavarara, Sinenkani, and FC Ravens - have previously featured in the Nedbank Cup proper. Amavarara participated in 2023, Sinenkani in 2022, where they advanced past Free State Stars in the round of 32, and FC Ravens reached the last 16 in 2024.
The winners of the five groups will proceed to the quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and the final. The winner of the final from the ABC Motsepe will then square up with the provincial Regional League winners of the Nedbank Cup prelims. This match will determine which team will be the province's third representative for the cup competition.
Last season, the Eastern Cape's delegation for the Nedbank Cup included Mighty Eagles, who have since been relegated from the Motsepe League, and PSL teams Chippa United and Highbury. The upcoming competition presents an opportunity for teams to make their mark and secure a spot in the Nedbank Cup.
With the preliminary rounds set to begin, teams will need to perform well to advance to the next stages. The competition is expected to be fierce, with teams vying for a spot in the Nedbank Cup round of 32. The ultimate goal is to secure the Eastern Cape's third tournament berth, and teams will need to give their best to achieve this goal.
Key points
- The Eastern Cape ABC Motsepe League teams will compete in five regional clusters to secure a spot in the Nedbank Cup round of 32.
- Only three teams - Amavarara, Sinenkani, and FC Ravens - have previously featured in the Nedbank Cup proper.
- The winner of the ABC Motsepe playoff final will compete against the provincial Regional League champions to secure the Eastern Cape's third tournament berth.
