The format of the new DStv Compact Cup
The knockout competition will take place over two weekends, 22nd January and 29th January 2022. Times are to be finalised by the league.
Four (4) regional teams will be selected from four (4) regional groups made up of all 16 PSL teams. The regional groups will be as follows;
The first weekend will feature two semi-final matches to be played between Inland and Coastal select teams. The teams will be made up of players from all 16 PSL teams with one head coach picked through the means of a draw.
The final and 3rd / 4th place play-off will be played on the 29th. The winning team will walk away with R1 million prize money.
Fans will get an opportunity to name their region's team by visiting SuperSport social media pages (Twitter and Instagram) and submitting their vote for the best name from the lists provided for the regional teams.
The football viewing community will get a chance to select the squad members by voting using this USSD *120*830# or on line by visiting Viewers Choice
The players will be selected by the supporters in a structured voting format as follows:
Coaches will be allowed to make 2 substitutions at any point in a match, while fans will be able to impact a match by enforcing 6 substitutions in a match, at the following intervals:
When does voting start?
Participants can vote between the 20th December 2021 and 3rd January 2022 to determine the 26 - man squads. Then again between, the 5th January 2022 and 12th January 2022, to determine the starting line ups and finally on the 22nd and 29th January 2022 to determine substitutions on matchdays.
What prizes are on offer for viewers who participate in voting?
All participating voters will be entered into a draw and one lucky viewer, subject to the terms and conditions will win One Million Rand.
Terms and Conditions for the competition can be found on the SuperSport website at;
DStv Compact Cup - The Voters Choice voting page
What are the qualifying criteria for a viewer to win the prize?
In order to qualify to win the prize a DStv subscriber must meet the following criteria;
Eligible voting participants must be;
How did the competition come about?
Working closely with our partners, the Premier Soccer League (PSL), we wanted to present South African football fans and DStv viewers with a unique and fresh football product that puts them in the driving seat and allow them to test their tactical skills through putting aside their rivalry and forming a formidable squad of PSL stars, using the exciting pool of talent that is on offer in both the DStv Premiership as well as the DStv Diski Challenge.
All this to be done from the safety and comfort of our viewers and football fan’s homes.
Is the competition only open to DStv subscribers?
The DStv Compact Cup is a competition for all South African football fanatics. This is demonstrated in how all fans of the 16 PSL clubs have been afforded an equal opportunity to actively engage and influence the outcome of the game.
What is even more exciting about the DStv Compact Cup is its theme of “The Viewers’ Choice,” which signifies how DStv and the PSL have collectively given fans an authoritative voice of influence on the game.
Will the matches be exclusive to Supersport or also broadcast live on SABC?
The matches will also be live on the public broadcaster however, fans viewing the competition on Supersport will enjoy the added benefits that our broadcast production experts have lined up as well as exciting prizes that will be available.
In addition to the above, fans can continue to re-live all the action through the full match re-runs and highlights packages that are exclusively available to Supersport.
Matches will be streamed live on the DStv Now app.
Is this competition not a duplicate of the Carling Cup?
The competition invites all fans of the 16 PSL clubs to be involved, which is a first of its kind for SA football. Not only are viewers selecting players from their favourite clubs, but this is the only competition that allows viewers to have the best players from their rival teams joining their squad.
The competition also provides a platform for the talent of the Multichoice Diski Challenge to showcase their skills at the highest level, as each team is required to have a minimum of 4 Diski Challenge players in their squad.
For the first time ever in the history of SA football, we will see opposition players, coaches and fans putting aside their long-standing rivalry and uniting as one in an exciting knockout competition.
Is this competition the new replacement for the Telkom Knockout?
This is a unique tournament that is tailor-made by DStv and the Premier Soccer League with its very own identity and innovative approach to fan and viewer engagement.
How long is the duration of this partnership?
Our partnership with the Premier Soccer League continues to grow in leaps and bounds for the ultimate benefit of South African football.
The DStv Compact Cup is themed as “The Viewers’ Choice”, which demonstrates that the success of the tournament is directly linked to how the fans respond to it – which we are quite confident of.
Why has DStv decided to take on another football property so soon after taking on the league.
Since partnering with the PSL in September 2014 to deliver the MultiChoice Diski Challenge, now DStv Diski Challenge. We have always looked at innovative ways in which we could uplift and grow football in South Africa. Our partnership with PSL further grew with the announcement of DStv as the flagship sponsor of South Africa’s premier football division. This marked an elevation of South Africa’s Premier Soccer League bringing together the best of sport and entertainment.
This partnership is the extension of an already fruitful and established relationship between DStv and the PSL. As the PSL continues to innovate with a quest to improve its product, DStv is committed in its role as partner to ensuring that the best product possible is delivered to fans.
How would you respond to the growing sentiment that DStv is monopolizing SA football with this being the third DStv football sponsorship?
The football landscape in South Africa and the rest of the world continues to expand and evolve which requires fresh and new thinking strategies from brands such as DStv.
At the heart of all our sponsorships, DStv has always made it a point that its approach to football sponsorship is in line with international football sponsorship standards that have proven to be of great benefit to football and its eco-system.
We are passionate about the growth of SA football, and we will always consult and approach the PSL, as well as all football stakeholders should we see a potential opportunity that will be of great benefit to the game.
Are there any CSI programmes linked to the competition?
There are no CSI programs linked to the competition but DStv has a few CSI programmes that operate all year round.
What is the winning team getting?
The winning team will get R1 million to be shared amongst the team members.
How do people vote for their players?
Fans can use this USSD code *120*830# or visit DStv Compact Cup Voting to vote for their favourite players in their regional teams to form part of the regional squad