Coach: MacDonald Makhubedu

Previous Nedbank Cup Last 32 appearances: None

Acornbush United are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year having been formed in 1987 and do so with an appearance in the Last 32 of the Nedbank Cup for the first time.

The Mpumalanga ABC Motsepe League side hail from Kabokweni near Nelspruit, where they enjoy huge local support at the local stadium that received a major upgrade in 2010 ahead of the World Cup hosted by South Africa.

The team is coached by former Sivutsa stars boss MacDonald Makhubedu, who also previously acted as assistant to legendary Jomo Sono at Jomo Cosmos.

He leads a squad that has notable experience in the National First Division and even Premier League, including former Mpumalanga Black Aces, Free State Stars and Jomo Cosmos forward Madoda Motha.

Mlungisi Nkosi from Mbombela United is another notable player who has experience of the Nedbank Cup in both 2014 and last year, even netting in a famous 4-3 defeat to Moroka Swallows three years ago.

Acornhoek have in the past given a number of players to top-flight and NFD teams themselves, including Free State Stars, Mbombela United and Black Leopards.

The side currently heads the Mpunalanga ABC Motsepe League and appears to be odds-on to make the national play-offs at the end of the 2016/17 season.

The club has styled their home kit on English sides Burnley and Aston Villa, using maroon and powder blue to make up their tops.

The team’s name is derived from an amalgamation of two local communities, Acornhoek and Bushbuckridge.