The Carling Knockout gets under way tonight when TS Galaxy host Mamelodi Sundowns in the opening match of the first round.
Here is a quick guide to the eight clashes in the opening stage.
TS GALAXY VS MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Wednesday, 18 October, 19h30 – Mbombela Stadium
Technically, Sundowns are the holders in this competition, having won the last final when they beat Maritzburg United 2-1 in the 2019 decider. They will have been stung by their loss on penalties to Pirates in the MTN8 final but have still not lost any of their last 22 games in all competitions (W16 D6), since a quarterfinal defeat to Stellenbosch FC in the Nedbank Cup. They have met Galaxy six times before and won five of those matches, including all their away trips.
ORLANDO PIRATES VS CAPE TOWN SPURS
Friday, 20 October, 19h30 – Orlando Stadium
Pirates were crowned MTN8 winners earlier this month and will fancy their chances of advancing against a Cape Town Spurs team that have lost all eight league games to date. It would be a huge upset were the latter to win in Orlando, having not managed to do so since an MTN8 quarterfinal victory in 2015. They went on to lift the top eight trophy that year. Their last win in Soweto before that was in 2008, so it is a rare event.
LAMONTVILLE GOLDEN ARROWS VS CAPE TOWN CITY
Saturday, 21 October, 15h00 – Mpumalanga Stadium
Cape Town City won this trophy under Eric Tinkler in their maiden season in 2016-17 and, despite lifting the MTN8 trophy since then, have had no other silverware to show for their consistency as a top club. Golden Arrows come into the game having made a dream start to the season with four wins in their last five games (D1). They are hoping for a first trophy since they lifted the MTN8 in 2009. City have not lost any of their last four (W2 D2) visits to Golden Arrows, or any of the last eight games overall (W4 D4).
CHIPPA UNITED VS STELLENBOSCH FC
Saturday, 21 October, 15h00 – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Chippa are vastly improved this season and Stellenbosch tend to blow hot and cold, so this one will be anybody’s guess. Chippa have only lost two of their nine games this term, though both of those were at home, where they continue to battle. Stellies’ form has fluctuated wildly, from away wins at Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United, to losses to Polokwane City and Moroka Swallows. Stellies edge the head-to-head 4-3 down the years with five draws, having won their last visit to Chippa 2-1 in February.
KAIZER CHIEFS VS AMAZULU
Saturday, 21 October, 18h00 – FNB Stadium
This is a repeat of the 1992 final in this competition when AmaZulu stunned Chiefs 3-1, the last time they lifted a trophy of any sort. Chiefs’ trophy drought goes back to 2015, the longest barren run in their history and a cause for great concern as Pirates and Sundowns pick up silverware around them. Chiefs beat Usuthu 3-0 in the league earlier this campaign and will be favourites again, but with three defeats in their last four games and one win in their last six (D2 L3), the AmaKhosi have battled to get their season into gear.
SEKHUKHUNE UNITED VS ROYAL AM
Saturday, 21 October, 20h15 – Peter Mokaba Stadium
These are two teams who have yet to hit any great heights this season. Sekhukhune were finalists in the Nedbank Cup last campaign, where they lost to Orlando Pirates. They were then beaten 5-0 by the Buccaneers in the quarterfinals of the 2023 MTN8. They sit in ninth and 13th in the league respectively with five wins in 17 games between them. A win will be a massive boost in confidence for the victor in this encounter. Sekhukhune beat Royal AM 1-0 away but the overall head-to-head record reads three wins each and a draw.
RICHARDS BAY VS MOROKA SWALLOWS
Sunday, 22 October, 15h00 – King Zwelithini Stadium
Swallows have been transformed under Steve Komphela, who is still waiting for his first trophy some 20 years after his top-flight career as a coach started. Will this finally be his time? Richards Bay sit second bottom in the league, but their single win this campaign did come at Swallows. There has always been a winner between these two. In five previous meetings, Swallows lead the head-to-head 3-2. That includes one win at Richards Bay when both teams campaigned in the second tier.
SUPERSPORT UNITED VS POLOKWANE CITY
Sunday, 22 October, 18h00 – TUT Stadium
This is the final game of the round against the team once crowned ‘Cup Kings’ in South Africa but who have seen their victories dry up in recent times and a Polokwane City side just happy to be back in the big time and without a piece of silverware to date. Polokwane have won only three of their previous 19 meetings with Matsatsantsa (D6 L10) but have yet to pick up a victory on the road against Gavin Hunt’s men. Both teams find themselves in the top five after strong starts to the DStv Premiership season.
