Soccer giants to take on smaller clubs in Nedbank Cup 2013/2014

THE last big soccer cup to play for during the season is the Nedbank Cup, which boasts 32 teams from the Premier Soccer League to lower division teams, is underway.

The seventh edition of the Nedbank Cup was launched whereby Nedbank re-affirmed its ongoing commitment to South African football and the communities it serves.

Known as South Africa’s own FA Cup, the tournament’s David and Goliath metaphor sees Mzansi’s lower division teams take a shot at football glory by tackling the giants and more established Premier Division clubs.

Some spectacular soccer will be played on the doorstep of the South Africa’s spectators. The giants of soccer, with the likes of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, will take on the smaller edition of clubs throughout the country.

PSL CEO Brand de Villiers said, “At the heart of Nedbank’s relationship with the PSL is a genuine desire to create not only memories, but also to give an opportunity to amateur clubs to live their dreams and compete against top professional clubs. This has laid a foundation for a sustainable legacy that will continue to benefit generations. I’m confident 2013/14 Nedbank Cup will be a beautiful spectacle and will continue to inspire and thrill South Africans.”

An additional 100 schools across the country will receive soccer kits and training equipment worth R1 million. The top goal scorer in each round of the tournament will win R10 000 for himself, plus R10 000 and a soccer kit for a school of his choice anywhere in South Africa.

As if that’s not enough, the award-winning Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search – another innovation introduced by Nedbank last year – will also make a comeback this year. As witnessed in 2013, Nedbank will once again call on amateur soccer players from all walks of life to try out for the Nedbank Ke Yona team that will eventually take on the 2014 Nedbank

The biggest winners are always the fans, who get to see some spectacular football as their teams go on the hunt for the coveted trophy, while their communities benefit through the Goals4Goals campaign in partnership with the Sports Trust. For every goal scored during this year’s tournament, Nedbank will donate R10 000 towards the building of a R1 million multi-purpose sport court for a school in the country. Last year, Sinamavu Primary School in KwaZulu Natal were the lucky recipients of the sport facility which encourages and enables children to excel in various sport codes.