INTRODUCING: Kwa-Dukuza United
Coach: Thami Ngubane
Previous Nedbank Cup Last 32 appearances (1): 2015 KwaDukuza United may be a new name to South African football fans but the roots of the club are born from a team that made big waves in the Nedbank Cup two years ago.
The owners of the club purchased the status of Natal United last year, the ABC Motsepe League team who knocked Chippa United out of the Nedbank Cup in the Last 32 in 2015.
Natal United played to a 0-0 draw with top-flight Chippa and then won 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out.
They took on provincial rivals Lamontville Golden Arrows in the Last 16 but were edged out 1-0 in another fine display from the side.
The current team is led by experienced coach Thami Ngubane, who has vast experience of campaigning in the National First Division and is hoping to push the side to promotion this year.
He has most notably been in charge of the likes of Thanda Royal Zulu, African Warriors and Royal Eagles in recent seasons.
The club, know as the ‘Black Jaguars’, is currently in the lower half of the ABC Motsepe League as they juggle league fixtures with their commitments in the Nedbank Cup.
KwaDukuza on the KwaZulu-Natal coast was formerly known as Stanger and was founded in around 1820 by King Shaka.
KwaZulu-Natal has long been a hotbed of talent for South Africa, with many of the country’s top names coming from the province.