The Carling Knockout Cup Round of 16 delivered thrilling action over the weekend, with plenty of goals scored as teams fought for places in the quarterfinals.
Afrik-Foot presents the top ten takeaways from the first round.
1 – Carling Knockout Cup not Pirates' forte?
Orlando Pirates were surprisingly eliminated from the Carling Knockout Cup in the first round, losing 3-2 to Magesi FC at Orlando Stadium.
The Buccaneers have historically struggled in the league cup competition, winning it only once in 2011 against Bidvest Wits.
Despite Jose Riveiro's success in winning the MTN8 three times and the Nedbank Cup twice, the Carling Cup continues to elude him.
2 – Peace restored between Mngqithi and duo Mokoena and Mudau
It appears that tensions have eased between Teboho Mokwena, Khuliso Mudau, and their coach Manqoba Mngqithi.
Both players had been sidelined for a significant period, leading to speculation about potential issues with the coach. Mokwena returned to action after missing five matches.
Mudau, who played in Sundowns' previous match against Kaizer Chiefs, was on the bench this time.
3 – Chiefs’ clinical finishing
Kaizer Chiefs secured a massive 4-0 victory over SuperSport United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Although Chiefs didn't control possession for most of the match, they were effective in capitalising on their scoring opportunities.
4 – Samkelo Zwane to become a regular?
Nasreddine Nabi has shown faith in several young players at Kaizer Chiefs. Samkelo Zwane, who has started two consecutive matches, could become a regular feature in the starting line-up.
5 – Wandile Duba and Mduduzi Shabalala’s season to shine
Both Mduduzi Shabalala and Wandile Duba have become regular starters under Nabi's leadership.
These players have gained confidence and made significant contributions to the team's recent results.
6 – Pirates' depth tested by tight schedule & injuries
With Olisa Ndah out injured, Nkosinathi Sibisi started the game against Magesi and his pairing with Thabiso Sesane was seemingly, at times, a bit shaky.
Patrick Maswanganyi, returning from international duty, started on the bench and his absence was noticeable. He made a significant impact after coming on in the second half, almost helping Pirates equalise.
While Pirates have a strong squad, their ability to maintain form without key players remains questionable.
7 – Shalulile rediscovers scoring touch
Peter Shalulile, who had been struggling to score goals, finally found the net for the first time this season. This could boost his confidence and lead to more goals.
The Namibian striker hasn’t been starting, with Iqraam Rayners having claimed the position. Manqoba Mngqithi will have more headache with striking department.
8. Veli Mothwa's Bafana Bafana spot under threat?
The former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, Richard Ofori, made his debut for AmaZulu after joining the club recently.
Veli Mothwa's place in the Bafana Bafana squad could be jeopardised due to his reduced playing time at AmaZulu.
9 – Andile Mpisane remains a regular starter
Despite continued criticism, Andile Mpisane, the chairman-cum-player of Royal AM, remains a regular starter.
He played against Cape Town City but continues to struggle with fitness and is unable to complete full matches.
10 – Another big club to follow Pirates out of the competition
The quarterfinal draw between Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns means that one of these teams will follow the Buccaneers out of the competition
