Crystal Lake are the new kids on the block

Crystal Lake will be the newest team in the Nedbank Cup Last 32 having been formed in 2023 and now barely seven months old but will take confidence from a fellow Bushbuckridge-based side who caused a shock in the 2017 edition when they take on defending champions Orlando Pirates at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.

Acornbush United dumped Cape Town City out of the Nedbank Cup at the Last 32 stage seven years ago and took Kaizer Chiefs close too in the next round before losing 2-1.

It was one of the great cup upsets of the last few decades and, with a passionate home crowd in Mpumalanga, showed the potential of clubs in the area.

That being said, there was no such luck for Crystal Lake’s fellow fourth-tier rivals Liver Brothers, who were beaten 6-0 by eventual finalists Sekhukhune United in the Last 32 in 2023.

Crystal Lake beat ABC Motsepe League side Middelburg United 1-0 in the provincial final to book a mouth-watering Last 32 clash with Pirates, but then face an arduous arbitration process after their opponents claimed the physio listed on their teamsheet for the game was incorrect. That challenge was ultimately dismissed.

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