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Milford FC assistant coach Nkululeko Buthelezi says the team is honoured to participate in the 2025 KZN Premier’s Cup, viewing it as a crucial test ahead of the upcoming Motsepe Foundation Championship season.
The pre-season tournament features six clubs from KwaZulu-Natal: AmaZulu, Golden Arrows, Richards Bay, Durban City, Milford FC, and Midlands Wanderers.
Buthelezi emphasised that while preparation is key, Milford is heading into the tournament with a winning mindset and a desire to lift the KZN showpiece trophy.
"The tournament will show us where we stand in terms of the preparations for the new season. We will also be able to assess how ready the players are for the new season and we'll go into the tournament not to check our level of fitness but with the aim to win the tournament,” Buthelezi said.
“So, we'll fight not to exit the competition in the first game, it will be great to play two or three matches.”
Buthelezi says Milford welcomes the chance to face familiar opposition in Durban City, a side they competed against in last season’s MFC.
Durban City, formerly Maritzburg United, clinched promotion to the Betway Premiership, adding more intrigue to the encounter.
Buthelezi believes the matchup provides the perfect opportunity to measure Milford’s progress.
"We are happy with the draw because we'll play against a team that we faced last season, although they've gotten promotion to the top flight but we know a lot of their players.
Even though they changed their technical team, so we don't really know how they'll approach the game tactically but because they still have most of their old players then we'll be able to challenge them," he added.
Milford FC ended their 2024/25 MFC campaign in 6th place with 43 points from 12 wins, 7 draws, and 11 defeats.
Despite topping the log for most of the season, Milford’s form dipped in the final stretch, allowing Durban City to snatch the title and secure promotion.
