Chiefs and Pirates are expected to clash in Durban

THE prime Telkom Knockout quarter-final fixture between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates is set to take place at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

The two clubs were on Tuesday drawn to face each other next weekend in what will be a precursor to their Absa Premiership clash scheduled for the FNB Stadium the following Saturday, November 9.

It is unlikely that the cup clash will be hosted at the Nasrec venue next weekend given that the Soweto Marathon is scheduled to take place there on Sunday, November 3.

Independent Media has been reliably informed by source close to Amakhosi that the Soweto derby is heading to Durban.

“Chiefs want to take the derby to Durban. They have written the letter to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) indicating that they want to take the game to Durban.

“It is all up to the PSL now if they approve the request from Chiefs. But the game is likely to be staged in Durban,” a source stated.

“Chiefs have taken the derby to Durban before. They are keen on doing it again this time around. Moses Mabhida Stadium is one of the Chiefs’ home grounds. FNB Stadium is their main stadium,” he added.

Chiefs, who knocked Cape Town City out of the cup via penalties at the weekend, are currently high on confidence as they top the league standings and have suffered a single defeat – to Polokwane City – so far this season.

The club’s Communication Manager Vina Maphosa refused to comment about the venue for the cup clash with the Buccaneers who earned their quarter-final berth via a 1-0 victory over Stellenbosch FC.

“We can’t comment about match venues because this is a cup game. If we do so, we will be caught offside.

So, can you please call the PSL,” Maphosa said.

Last season, the Sea Robbers and Amakhosi squared off at Moses Mabhida in the Nedbank Cup semifinal. PSL acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mato Madlala said they will announce the quarter-final venues soon.

“We don’t know yet as to where the game will be staged. The draw was done yesterday (Tuesday) and we will announce the dates in due course.” Madlala articulated.

The Glamour Boys and the Buccaneers are going through a trophy drought.

Chiefs haven’t tasted success since 2015 while Pirates have endured turbulent times for the past five years.

Both sides will be looking to use this cup as an opportunity to end their barren run of trophies. The Sea Robbers came close last season but succumbed to a penalty shootout defeat against Baroka FC in the Telkom Knockout final at Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.