The Carling Knockout Round of 16 matches take centre stage this weekend with some interesting matchups to look forward to.
The draw for the tournament saw the top eight PSL teams from last season seeded against the bottom eight with holders Stellenbosch starting their title defence on Friday.
Kaizer Chiefs are the undisputed kings of the tournament, having claimed 13 titles, nine more than the second-best team, although their last crown came 14 years ago.
Here is a match-by-match guide for the Round of 16 of South Africa’s version of the English League Cup.
Friday October 18, 2024
AMAZULU VS STELLENBOSCH – KING GOODWILL ZWELITHINI STADIUM (19.00)
Defending champions Stellenbosch will be keen to make it back-to-back titles but have a tricky Round of 16 tie away to AmaZulu who are under new management in the dugout.
Arthur Zwane and Vusi Vilakazi were unveiled as the co-coaches this month and will want to start on a high while Stellenbosch will count on their recent impressive cup run.
Steve Barker’s men are still smarting from their MTN8 final loss early this month but will hope that it is a happy return to Durban where they enjoyed CAF Confederation Cup success.
However, Usuthu are yet to taste victory this season, which claimed the job of coach Pablo Franco Martin, and Zwane and Vilakazi hope to impress on their first assignment.
Saturday October 19, 2024
ORLANDO PIRATES VS MAGESI FC – ORLANDO STADIUM (15.00)
Cup specialists Orlando Pirates begin their campaign with a home tie against newly-promoted Magesi FC and on paper, the Soweto giants are hot favourites.
It is hard to see beyond a Pirates win after their impressive run this season which has seen them remain unbeaten in 11 matches. The Bucs have already claimed the first trophy of the season after winning the MTN8.
Coach Jose Riveiro has won five cups since his arrival in July 2022, the Carling Knockout the only one eluding him, following last season’s quarter-final loss to Richards Bay on penalties, and he will want to right those wrongs this time around.
POLOKWANE CITY VS MARUMO GALLANTS – OLD PETER MOKABA STADIUM (15.00)
Form favours Polokwane City, who have won two and drawn one of their four games, their only defeat coming against Orlando Pirates.
The two teams know each other well even though Gallants have since shifted base from Polokwane to Bloemfontein. Dan Malesela’s men have managed just one win so far this season so the game will give ‘Dance’ a chance to change their fortunes.
Polokwane will fancy their chances given they have some match winners like Thabang Matuludi and Oswin Appollis.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS VS GOLDEN ARROWS – LUCAS MORIPE STADIUM (18.00)
It is a tough task for Golden Arrows who last beat Mamelodi Sundowns in 2017 and have been on the end of hidings at the hands of the Brazilians in recent years.
Sundowns assistant coach Steve Komphela will be relied upon to give some inside information on Arrows, who he coached last season, although Manqoba Mngqithi’s side have enough quality to triumph even without some ‘leakage.’
Sundowns had won five straight games before the international break and that is a form that should worry their former player Mabhuti Khenyeza, now coach of Abafana Bes’thende, who have two wins and as many defeats this season.
SUPERSPORT UNITED VS KAIZER CHIEFS – PETER MOKABA STADIUM (20.00)
Kaizer Chiefs may be the most successful team in the competition but their fans have endured pain for nearly 10 years.
Amakhosi last won a trophy in 2015 and will be hoping that a Carling Knockout win can be the start of good things at Naturena.
New coach Nasreddine Nabi has had a positive start at the club given their impressive style of play and SuperSport, under former Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt, will provide a good test.
Matsatsantsa have not had the best of starts to the season, with just one win in five, and will be looking to silence Chiefs before the two sides clash again in the PSL a week later.
CAPE TOWN CITY VS ROYAL AM – ATHLONE STADIUM (20.00)
Royal AM, hampered by their transfer ban, will hope to snatch another positive result away to Cape Town after forcing a draw against the Citizens in the league this season.
Royal knocked Cape Town out of the Nedbank Cup in 2023-24 and will be confident of repeating the same against Eric Tinkler’s team whose mass signings are yet to start producing the goods after two wins in six matches.
Sunday October 20, 2024
TS GALAXY VS CHIPPA UNITED – MBOMBELA STADIUM (15.00)
The fortunes of the two teams have been contrasting, Galaxy losing all their four games this season, while Chippa look re-energised and focused under the guidance of Kwanele Kopo.
Chippa United already have seven points from their first three games and look like they could avenge last season’s quarter-final loss to Galaxy.
Galaxy went all the way to the final before losing to Stellenbosch FC on penalties but current form does not inspire confidence and Kopo’s men will fancy their chances.
RICHARDS BAY VS SEKHUKHUNE – KING GOODWILL ZWELITHINI STADIUM (15.00)
Richards Bay reached the Carling Knockout semi-final last season, having beaten Pirates in the quarter-finals on penalties, and how they would wish for another such run.
Sekhukhune United, meanwhile, are out of two cup competitions, after their elimination from the MTN8 and CAF Confederations Cup, and even though they have managed two wins and a draw in the league, they are yet to really impress, which will give the Natal Rich Boyz hope.
