Mlungisi Mbunjana, right, with Mpo Mvelase, front left, during TS Galaxy training ahead of the 2026 Nedbank Cup Final this week.
Image: BackpagePix
FOR TS GALAXY’S older statesmen, Mlungisi Mbunjana and Mpho Mvelase, the 2026 Nedbank Cup final comes with an added incentive — to star in a fairytale ending to their careers as professional footballers.
Mvelase turned 37 in February, while Mbunjana will turn 36 in August. The journeys they’ve travelled in life and football will be at the back of their minds when Galaxy face Durban City in the Nedbank Cup final at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night. Kick-off is scheduled for 6pm.
“It would be very nice; it would be amazing,” reflected Mbunjana during their media open day this week. Mbunjana was on the books of Highlands Park when they were bought by Galaxy.
“If God grants us this cup, it would be amazing because we are left with… how many years in the game? I don’t know, but it would be a good way to end it with silverware. It would be a very nice feeling, a beautiful moment.”
However, things are slightly complicated for the duo and Galaxy as a whole at the moment, as the Mpumalanga-based side is headed to the final while their league fortunes have soured in recent months.
Galaxy are not threatened by relegation as yet, but 26 points from 26 games is not a desirable return, especially when you are just six points clear of bottom-placed Orbit College.
That poor return has led to a change in coaches, with Adnan Berganovic replaced by Bernard Parker; Mbunjana says the squad is responding well to recent developments.
“In the cup, we’ve had a good run. We’ve worked hard to be where we are and to get to the final. And yeah, I think we are ready and looking forward to playing in the final. The boys are responding well to the changes, so we are actually looking forward to Saturday,” said Mbunjana.
The defensive midfielder knows all too well how much influence a slight change of scenery can bring and, as a result, they will be looking to transfer their cup form to the league’s final stretch of four games.
“Yes, I think it can (the cup run influencing positive changes in the league). We haven’t had a good run in the league, but in the cup, things have been working well for us,” said Mbunjana. “So, we are looking to keep the positives from the league and blend them with a few things from (our cup run), and the good thing is that the boys are responding well.”
Another thing Mbunjana knows well is losing a cup final with Galaxy, which happened two seasons ago when they lost the Carling Knockout Cup to Stellenbosch FC.
“The pain of losing a final — you don’t want to go through that again. It is a good thing we have someone like Bernard Parker, who has won so many finals. He’s sharing much of his experience and things that worked for him and his team at that time. So, we are trying to grasp as much as possible from that.”