Clever Boys begin defence of TKO title
JOBURG -– Bidvest Wits will begin defence of their TKO title against Free State Stars.
Bidvest Wits will begin the defence of their Telkom Knockout (TKO) Trophy championship on 20 October when they lock horns with Free State Stars at Goble Park Stadium in Bethlehem at 3.30pm.
The Clever Boys, as they are best known to their loyal fans, are currently on fire and occupy the summit of the Absa Premiership but will have to prove their cleverness once more when they clash with the tricky team of coach Luc Eymael.
Wits, who won the cup last year after being crowned premiership champions in the 2016/17 season, will have to prove they were not champions of the cup last year by fluke.
On paper, they are the side expected to advance to the quarterfinals of the cup tournament from this encounter but as football is well known for its unpredictability, anything can happen if the Clever Boys lower their guard and become too complacent.
The other fixture of the day will see struggling Limpopo outfit Baroka FC take on gritty KwaZulu-Natal side Lamontville Golden Arrows at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. In this clash, my money is on Abafana bes’thende (Golden Arrows), to advance.
The other fixtures of the 2018/19 Telkom Knockout round of 16 which will be played on 20, 21 and 23 October, will feature matches such as the 2015 champions Mamelodi Sundowns up against last year’s runner-up and 2012 TKO champions, the rejuvenated Bloemfontein Celtic coached by Steve Komphela.
At the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg, Maritzburg United will enjoy home ground advantage against new kids on the block of the premiership, Highlands Park, who are proving hard to beat under the mentorship of slick tactician Owen Da Gama.
They have held the big three of the Absa Premiership, Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns and fireworks are expected against a Maritzburg team that seems to have finally found their footing in this year’s campaign of the premiership after a somewhat slow start.
Orlando Pirates, another team that has tasted glory in the Telkom Knockout back in 2011, will play Chippa United at Orlando Stadium at 8.15pm. Three-time TKO champions Kaizer Chiefs will take on premiership newcomers from Limpopo, Black Leopards at FNB Stadium in Soweto on 21 October at 3.30pm.
Also on 21 October, the 2014 TKO champions SuperSport United will travel to Limpopo to face Polokwane City at 3.30pm while the last fixture of the round of 16 will be on 23 October between AmaZulu and Cape Town City at the King Zwelithini Stadium at 7.30pm.
