Domestic soccer returns as teams prepare for the Carling Knockout Cup first round.
This near-two-month tournament—October 18 to December 16—is set to be a hotly contested one.
Kaizer Chiefs are looking to end their 10-year trophy drought, Orlando Pirates are after their second cup of the season, and Mamelodi Sundowns want to restamp their dominance.
Carling Knockout Cup fixtures, times and dates
Friday, October 18
AmaZulu FC vs Stellenbosch FC @ King Zwelithini (19:00)
Saturday, October 19
Cape Town City vs Royal AM @ Athlone Stadium (15:00)
Orlando Pirates vs Magesi FC @ Orlando Stadium (15:00)
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Golden Arrows @ Lucas Moripe Stadium (18:00)
Polokwane City vs Marumo Gallants @ Old Peter Mokaba Stadium (20:00)
Sunday, October 20
TS Galaxy F.C. vs Chippa United @ Mbombela Stadium (15:00)
SuperSport United vs Kaizer Chiefs @ New Peter Mokaba Stadium (15:00)
Richards Bay vs Sekhukhune United @ King Zwelithini Stadium (17:30)
Kaizer Chiefs first game
The AmaKhosi faithful will have to watch their side take on SuperSport United – many have bookmarked this as their game of the weekend.
Many fans were surprised by such a heavyweight fixture in the first round, which resulted from the Glamour Boys’ 10th-place finish last season.
Coach Nasreddine Nabi will want to steer his side towards cup victory and end his club’s decade-long trophy drought.
Orlando Pirates first Carling Knockout Cup game
Orlando Pirates will host newcomers Magesi FC, who seem to be optimistic about the fixture after goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze told Independent Media, “It’s game that is a motivation on its own you know because everyone wants to play against Orlando Pirates, so we are excited and we’re looking forward to the game,
“We are inspired by that, because if you see teams like Stellenbosch going all the way and win it.
“So in the back of our minds, we’re like we can do so too but you can’t just swim for the top, we need to work for it and at the end of day we have to go out there and put in the work because that’s the most important thing but like I said it’s an exciting fixture,”
Who do you think will win the Carling Knockout Cup?
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