Giant-killers Milford set sights on uncharted territory in Nedbank Cup

Giant-killers Milford FC will be aiming to write another memorable chapter in their Nedbank Cup story when they host Mkhambathi FC at the Umhlathuze Sports Complex on Sunday (3pm kick-off), with a historic first quarter-final berth firmly in their sights.

Milford grabbed national attention in 2024 after stunning Kaizer Chiefs, holding the Soweto giants to a goalless draw before prevailing 5-4 on penalties to reach the Round of 16 for the first time in club history. Their fairytale run ended abruptly, however, when they were thrashed 6-1 by Stellenbosch FC in the last 16 of that edition.

The following season brought renewed hope, but the last-16 hurdle once again proved out of reach as they fell 2-1 to Sekhukhune United, having advanced automatically after Royal AM were removed from the competition.

Now, against an ABC Motsepe League opponent, Milford enter a clash that has all the ingredients of a classic upset narrative. While they may carry the favourites tag, the unpredictability of lower-division sides makes Mkhambathi a genuine threat.

Beyond their cup ambitions, Milford are also enjoying a strong league campaign. The KwaZulu-Natal side currently lead the Motsepe Foundation Championship standings with a three-point cushion over Kruger United. Still, assistant coach Nkululeko Buthelezi insists full focus is on Sunday’s knockout clash.

“Happy to be part of the Round of 16 despite the challenges we faced,” said Buthelezi.

“It seems like we keep drawing SAFA regional teams, which we don’t know much about, and they are not the easiest teams to play against because planning is not easy with the scheduling.

“A lot is revealed during match days, and that is where many adjustments are made, which doesn’t make it easy to play against them.”

While automatic promotion remains a key objective, Buthelezi stressed that the club is committed to competing strongly on both fronts.

“We have enough depth in our squad to challenge for both titles,”he continued.

“Our aim is to advance to the next round of the Nedbank Cup. We have a lot of players who need game time, and the upcoming match will be the ideal opportunity for us to find the right balance.”

With Cape Town City, Casric Stars and Kruger United close behind in the promotion race separated only by five points, Buthelezi added that maintaining momentum will be crucial.

“The players are aware of the importance of the league.

“The players understand that winning in general takes priority in everything that we do. If we can manage to progress and also push hard to get the three points against Midlands Wanderers, that will be important.”

Milford will then turn their attention to a crucial top-of-the-table clash against City.

“About the Cape Town City match, the focus now is on the upcoming two games to continue our momentum, with our target on winning. We want to carry a lot of confidence heading into the match against the Cape side.”