Kaizer Chiefs’ next opponents in the Nedbank Cup Acornbush United have officially been crowned Mpumalanga champions of the ABC Motsepe League. Acornbush were 3-1 winners over Forek Academy on Sunday at home, moving up to an unassailable 67 points. Second-placed TS Galaxy FC soldiered on to a slender 1-0 victory at FC Benfica but sit 15 points behind Acornbush with only four games now left before the end of the season. Acornbush have scored 77 goals to date, conceding only 19 and have only lost once all season winning 21 of their 26 games to date. By winning their provincial league Acornbush are now through to the national finals from where they will be hoping they win promotion to the National First Division.

Next up for the third-tier club is their biggest match ever against Chiefs which they were drawn to host last Thursday. Considerations are already being made that this match against AmaKhosi be moved from their smaller traditional home at KaBokweni Stadium to the bigger Mbombela Stadium as a huge crowd is expected for this game to be played early next month. After humiliating Cape Town City in the first round they will now be out to get an even bigger scalp in Chiefs who have a tendency of being shamed by lower division teams in this competition.

Acornbush is one of only two clubs along with KwaDukuza United from outside the country’s top two leagues that have survived this far. They are coached by McDonald Makhubedu, with former Orlando Pirates forward Reason Chiloane as the assistant. The list of players on their books that have played in the professional ranks includes Madoda Motha, Bongani Nyathi, Mlungisi Nkosi and Sifiso Thomo.