Only months after announcing the sale of the club due to unpaid salaries and an impending name change at the end of a struggling season, Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila are in the unlikely position of challenging for a trophy following their Nedbank Cup shock of Mamelodi Sundowns by way of penalty kicks on Sunday. They will meet the Chilli Boys of Chippa United, who took down second-tier Pretoria Callies in the other semi-final by a 1-0 score.
Zimbabwean goalkeeper Washington Arubi was the hero of the day, marshaling the TTM defense to a clean sheet and coming up with the one save needed to win the penalty-kick shootout. Sundowns launched plenty of attacks but came up against a battle-tested defense that was prepared for the occasion. TTM were rewarded for holding out for the lottery of a PK shootout when Sundowns’ Hlompho Kekana kept his effort chest-high for Arubi to deny.
Chippa United’s win required a little less suspense. The Chilli Boys had the match in control with only a lackluster attack keeping the game close for Pretoria Callies. The winner came in the 63rd minute when defender Sandile Mthethwa volleyed home after Callies failed to clear a lofted diagonal ball.
Highlights of both games are below as well as more detailed match reports.