Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns will play their first Carling Knockout Cup matches on Tuesday. The games come days before Pirates and Chiefs meet in the Soweto Derby.
Pirates will host newcomers Milford FC at the Orlando Amstel Arena in Soweto. Chiefs will play TS Galaxy at FNB Stadium, and Sundowns will host Marumo Gallants at Loftus Versfeld.
Stellenbosch FC will travel to Durban to face Durban City on Wednesday in the last of the four round of 16 matches. All four games kick off at 7pm, SABC Sport reported.
Sundowns go into the cup after a painful exit from the CAF Champions League on Friday. The defending champions lost to Angolan side Williete on the away goals rule in the preliminary round.
Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso said the team wants to win the cup. He said he was wary of extra time and penalty shootouts.
“We would like to win the tournament and playing home gives us some comfort cause we travel so much but we also know Marumo last year they beat us in the penalties and now we have to try and win the game in regulation time,” Cardoso said.
Chiefs were also knocked out of Africa on Friday. Zambian side Red Arrows beat them in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz said the team would be ready for Galaxy. “We’ll leave for Johannesburg well prepared so that we can win on Tuesday and qualify for the next round of the competition,” he said.
TS Galaxy have struggled in the Betway Premiership. They have won only one of their eight league matches.
Galaxy interim coach Esau Mtsweni said a win would help his team before their league match against Polokwane City on Saturday.
“It’s a very tough one playing against Chiefs away from home, but we haven’t been doing well in the league; this game can be a confidence booster going into the next league match,” Mtsweni said.
Pirates are the defending Carling Knockout Cup champions. They beat Namibia’s African Stars on Friday to reach the group stage of the CAF Champions League.
Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou said his players were not under pressure. “Of course we are the defending champions, but we are going to start that game to win,” he said.
Stellenbosch coach Gavin Hunt said his side knows Durban City and the venue well. Stellenbosch have played some of their home matches in Durban.
The last two games between the sides ended in goalless draws. “I know the stadium very well, and I know the team very well, so I am sure it’s gonna be a tough game,” Hunt said.
Pirates and Chiefs will then meet in the first Soweto Derby of the season at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 31 October.
Source: this article is based on reporting by SABC Sport. Image: SABC Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.