Cup Overview

The Rockets tactician has admitted that his side’s inability to address long-standing defensive vulnerabilities ultimately cost them the chance to lift the Cup. The 2018–19 winners fell to a 2-1 defeat against Durban City in Polokwane on Saturday, extending a miserable run of form for the Mpumalanga-based outfit.

Darren Keet has confirmed he will retire from professional football at the end of the current season. The 36-year-old made the emotional announcement just moments after helping Durban City secure their first-ever Nedbank Cup title with a victory over TS Galaxy at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

With everything at stake in the Ke Yona final, the Rockets bore the burden of expectation as they aimed to steady a disappointing Premier Soccer League campaign and relive their greatest moment in the competition, lifting the trophy at Moses Mabhida Stadium against Kaizer Chiefs in 2019, back when they were still in the First National Division. On the other side, the league newcomers embraced a golden opportunity to write their names into the history books and end KwaZulu-Natal’s long wait for silverware, with a chance to reignite the province’s cup pedigree.

Both sides have been bullish during the build up to the final but only one can emerge victorious with their name engraved on the trophy. The Citizens will be confident after doing the league double over The Rockets but their new interim coach Bernard Parker has cup pedigree he can hopefully instil in his players.