21 January 2019 – Eastern Cape ABC Motsepe League team Tornado FC will be making a second appearance in the Nedbank Cup Last 32 having appeared in 2015 when they were beaten 4-0 by Orlando Pirates in the opening round with a side that was coached by ex-Buccaneer Jerry Sikhosana.

They will be hoping for better this time round, but have had a hic-cup in the build-up to the tournament when head coach Tshepo Motsoeneng left for Premier Soccer League side Chippa United in early December 2018.

Motsoeneng had led the team to the team to the ABC Motsepe League national play-offs at the end of the 2017/18 season, where they narrowly missed out on promotion.

He is now back with the team and hard at work preparing his team for their Nedbank Cup clash against Kaizer Chiefs at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium on Sunday, 27 January.

Among their notable players is former University of Pretoria and Ajax Cape Town winger Innocent Nemukondeni, who joined the club this season.

The team plays their home games at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane outside of East London.

They also appeared in South Africa’s FA Cup competition in 2005, where they came through a penalty shootout against Louisvale Pirates in the Last 32 but were then beaten 8-0 in the next round by Pitso Mosimane’s SuperSport United.

They have competed in the National First Division before – over 15 years ago.

Meanwhile, Free State ABC Motsepe League side Super Eagles make a return to the Nedbank Cup Last 32 after narrowly losing to eventual winners Free State Stars at this stage last season in what was their maiden appearance.

Super Eagles were campaigning in the National First Division in the last campaign before their relegation and drew local Bethlehem rivals Stars in the Last 32, a team with whom they were sharing their Goble Park home.

Super Eagles led into injury-time at the end of the game, but when Stars equalised, the top-flight side went on to claim an extra-time win and eventually the Nedbank Cup trophy some months later in the final in Cape Town.

The team is now campaigning under head coach Tisetso Mofokeng, who was looking after the goalkeepers in the NFD, and have managed to retain a good core of their players from their second-tier season.

The side plays their games this campaign at the Bohlokong Stadium.

Super Eagles will meet Bloemfontein Celtics at Goble Park on Sunday, 27 January.