Spectacular soccer for local fans

The Mpumalanga Spectacular Cup (MSC), set to be played at Mbombela Stadium next week Saturday, will offer Absa Premiership table toppers – Bidvest Wits and SuperSport United – an opportunity to keep their players match fit ahead of their last push in the second half of the season.

Also to take part in the second edition of the MSC, are National First Division play-off spot-chasers Mbombela United and PSL bottom-placed Baroka FC.
Both the PSL and NFD are currently on recess due to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, which is expected to get under way in Gabon on Saturday.

Bafana Bafana are not part of the continental showpiece after missing out to The Lions of Cameroon.

Mthuthuzeli Qamba of Mbombela Stadium said, “This is an annual event to be hosted as a pre-season tournament.

“We couldn’t host it last season as we were affected by the rumour of selling Aces status.”
He urged local soccer fans to show their support towards the event. “As many soccer-loving people were complaining that they will miss a month of PSL football action, we as Mbombela Stadium management we are bringing it closer to their doorstep. We urge our football loving people to rally behind the tournament as our future plan is to grow it to be one of the biggest pre-season tournaments in the country,” added Qamba.

The first edition of the MSC was last hosted in 2015. Defunct Mpumalanga Black Aces won the inaugural event after drawing 1-1 and then beating Platinum Stars 4-1 on penalties. University of Pretoria and Bidvest Wits were the other two participants that year.

The draw for the tournament is expected to be conducted early next week.
Tickets for the game went on sale on Tuesday and are available at Computicket at a price of R40 for adults and R10 for children aged two to 12.