The last group-stage matches of the Nedbank Cup competition will be played at two different venues this Saturday. The fixtures were originally scheduled for last weekend but were postponed, pending the finalisation of a dispute involving some of the participating teams.
The first group will play their matches at the Nkowankowa Stadium outside Tzaneen, while Polokwane's Old Peter Mokaba Stadium will host the other group.
Nkowankowa Continentals and Phalaborwa United will be the first teams to take to the pitch in one of the two matches to be played at Nkowankowa Stadium. Phalaborwa United's path to the group stage was not an easy one — they narrowly beat Selwana White Vultures 1-0 at the Selwana Sports Complex outside Phalaborwa two weeks ago.
Mpheni Defenders and Lebash Football Academy will battle it out for a place in the knockout stage in the other match at Nkowankowa Stadium. Mpheni Defenders beat The Dolphins FC 3-0 in their preliminary-round match at the Ben Serake Stadium in Senwabarwana to secure a spot in the group stage.
Defenders are armed to the teeth this season after bolstering their squad with four vastly experienced players. Former Black Leopards playmaker Meshack Maphangule is one of their new acquisitions. The other three new signings are Thulani Mabizela, Mpimo Maswanganyi and Masilakhe Phohlongo.
Mpheni Defenders were the amateur team that represented Limpopo Province in the national round of 32 last season. Up the Bulls, as they are also known, were eliminated by Mamelodi Sundowns, who beat them 2-0 in the round of 16 last season.