Tough hurdle awaits TTM in Nedbank Cup

Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC (TTM) head coach Lucky “King Mchichwa” Nelukau believes his side will prove critics wrong when they face Betway Premiership outfit Orlando Pirates in their Nedbank Cup round-of-32 match. The draw was conducted last Thursday evening.

Nelukau acknowledged that few observers were giving TTM a chance, but said his team had a history of upsetting top-flight opposition. He pointed to their 2022 Nedbank Cup run, when they overturned a 2-0 deficit to beat SuperSport United 3-2 in a quarterfinal at Thohoyandou Stadium on Friday, 8 April.

That victory followed an earlier upset at the same venue, where TTM — also known as Vhadau vha Damani — eliminated Lamontville Golden Arrows 7-6 on penalties in the round of 16 on Saturday, 5 February 2022. The match had ended 1-1 after regulation and extra time.

Nelukau said he told his players after the draw that the match presented an opportunity to show they had not reached the round of 32 by default. TTM are among the eight remaining amateur teams in the competition. They lifted the Nedbank Cup trophy in 2021 after a 1-0 victory over Chippa United at Free State Stadium.

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou said his side would not underestimate TTM, noting that the Nedbank Cup was renowned for producing surprises. Pirates have won the competition 10 times.

Although the Premier Soccer League had yet to confirm dates and venues at the time of going to press, the match is expected to be played at Thohoyandou Stadium.

Date:23 January 2026

By: Frank Mavhungu

Frank is a Human Resources Manager at the Department of Public Works in Limpopo. He is the longest serving correspondent of the Mirror, having joined us at the end of 1990.  He mainly writes sports reports and resides at Tsianda Village. In 2004, Frank won the National Castle League Award, an award for the best reporter in the SAB league in South Africa.

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