A renewal of the cup rivalry between SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs headlines the round of 16 action in the 2024 Carling Knockout (CKO), which will see eight matches played from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 October.
SuperSport and Chiefs will clash at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night for their first cup meeting since 2018 (in the quarterfinal of this competition’s predecessor, the Telkom Knockout).
Matsatsantsa and the Amakhosi were regular combatants in knockout competitions all through the mid 1990s, 2000s and 2010s, and this match will revive memories of their great battles down the years.
It will also be a key clash for Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi, who has won favour with the club’s fickle fans early in his tenure, but will need to come out on top in this match to remain in their good graces – especially as the CKO represents the first chance for the Tunisian to end a near decade-long trophy drought.
“It’s never too soon to start expecting trophies from a team like Chiefs because we should be winning trophies every season,” said goalkeeper Brandon Peterson. “We’ve been in a drought for long and I think it’s time to change it and not just say it but do it.”
The round of 16 opens on Friday night with reigning champions Stellenbosch FC facing a tricky match away to AmaZulu FC at the King Zwelithini Stadium. Usuthu will hope for a ‘new manager bounce’ after appointing the duo of Arthur Zwane and Vusumuzi Vilakazi to succeed the sacked Pablo Franco Martin.
Saturday features Polokwane City hosting Marumo Gallants, MTN8 champions Orlando Pirates will back themselves to overcome Magesi FC in Soweto, as will Mamelodi Sundowns in their clash against Golden Arrows at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, while Cape Town City and Royal AM will likely have a tight clash in their meeting at the Athlone Stadium – the teams played out a 1-1 draw when they met in the league earlier this season.
Sunday afternoon sees TS Galaxy welcome Chippa United to the Mbombela Stadium, before the round is completed at the King Zwelithini Stadium with a match between Richards Bay and Sekhukhune United.
CARLING KNOCKOUT WEEKEND FIXTURES
Times CAT
FRIDAY 18 OCTOBER
19:00: AmaZulu FC v Stellenbosch FC
SATURDAY 19 OCTOBER
15:00: Orlando Pirates v Magesi FC
15:00: Polokwane City v Marumo Gallants
18:00: Mamelodi Sundowns v Golden Arrows
20:00: SuperSport United v Kaizer Chiefs
20:00: Cape Town City v Royal AM
SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER
15:00: TS Galaxy v Chippa United
17:30: Richards Bay v Sekhukhune United