SEDIBENG.- SAFA Sedibeng Hollywood Regional League teams will kick start their 2025/2026 season with the Nedbank Cup Preliminary fixtures scheduled to take place at Isak Steyl Stadium and Qetilizwe ground, respectively, on September 13.

This is going to be an interesting fixture with VUT FC pitted against Perfect Academy at Isak Steyl Stadium. The newly promoted ABC Motsepe League Club’s Young Pirates FC were the overall winners for last season.

The question is, who will go all the way to represent this region in the next stage of this well-known competition, allowing amateur teams to play against the top PSL clubs.

In the past, this region had teams that went all the way to finish in the last 16 of the competition.

For instance, VUT FC wrote their name into the history books when they reached the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup, before being knocked out by Mamelodi Sundowns. That achievement remains one of the proudest moments in recent Vaal football history.

It is also important to note that the now-defunct Boipatong Real Rangers FC achieved a similar milestone in 2002, when they too reached the last 16 of the competition.

Their journey ended at Zamdela Stadium, where they suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Maritzburg United.

Despite this defeat, most of their players went on to play in the top-flight football. Papi Zothwane (Golden Arrows/Mamelodi Sundowns), Lungisani Ndhlela (Moroka Swallows/Mamelodi Sundowns), Solomon Mathe (Orlando Pirates/Platinum Stars) were some of the players who went on to make a name for themselves in SA’s top-flight football.

Nedbank Cup will go down as one of the PSL cup competitions that gives amateur teams and players the platform to compete against the best in South African football.