Pirates set for good start in new cup

Big-gun club soccer returns this weekend after the international break and TAB soccer pools are loaded with entertaining matches including seven matches between PSL teams in the recently launched Carling Knockout Cup. Plus there are R100,000 carryovers to TAB Soccer 10 and Soccer Any 13 Xtra pools , so take a bet and make the football even more exciting, as well as giving yourself the chance to win wads of lovely loot.

The return of the Carling Knockout Cup this weekend means a third domestic knockout competition is back on the South African football calendar.

Orlando Pirates have emerged as the new local cup kings, winning three successive knockout trophies including the MTN8 this month. They have appeared in nine finals of the Carling Knockout in its various forms down the years, but have won just once - a 3-1 success against BidVest Wits in 2011.

Pirates will fancy their chances of advancing in the competition on Friday against a Cape Town Spurs team that have lost all eight league games to date. It would be a huge upset if Spurs were to win in Orlando on Friday.

The next day there is a repeat of the 1992 final in which AmaZulu stunned Kaizer 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 plunder silverware around them. Chiefs did beat Usuthu 3-0 in the league earlier this campaign and will fancy their prospects of winning again.

On Sunday SuperSport United, who were regular finalists in the old Telkom Knockout which the Carling Cup replaces, host Polokwane City who will be no pushovers. But this is just the kind of tournament SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt can sink his teeth into.

Also on Sunday, Moroka Swallows go away to Richards Bay who are yet to win a home game this year. Swallows have been transformed under Steve Komphela, who is still waiting for his first trophy some 20 years after his topflight career as a coach started. Will this finally be his time? Richards Bay sit second bottom in the league table, but their single win this campaign did come away at Swallows.

Cape Town City won this trophy under Eric Tinkler in their maiden season in 2016-17 and despite lifting the MTN8 since then, have also tasted plenty of heartache in finals. They have the squad capable of winning it, but have a habit of underachieving. They go into an away match in KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday against Lamontville Golden Arrows, who are second in the league after a magnificent start to the season and will be favourites to win at at home.

All the teams in the DStv Premiership take part in the Carling Knockout and the final will be played on 16 December at a venue still to be decided.

HIRED/FIRED: Former Italian international Filippo Inzaghi will take charge of Salernitana as they look to avoid relegation after dropping to second from bottom in the Serie A table. He starts this weekend against bottom-placed Cagliari.

BACK IN ACTION: Lionel Messi’s return at Inter Miami after missing several games through injury comes too late to get them into the playoffs.